National 5 Revision Tutorial Critical Essays

Critical Reading: Section 2 How Long? How Many Marks are Available? How Many Questions? Dos and Don’ts?

Process Selecting a Task - Look through relevant ‘Genre’ Sections DRAMA PROSE POETRY FILM & TELEVISION DRAMA LANGUAGE STUDY

Deconstructing the Task How many parts are there to each task?

Answers to questions in this section should refer to the text and to such relevant features as: characterisation, setting, language, key incident(s), climax/turning point, plot, structure, narrative technique, theme, ideas, description… 3. Choose a novel or short story or non-fiction text which deals with an important issue (e.g. social, political, moral, religious…). Identify the issue and, by referring to appropriate techniques, show how the author deepens your understanding of it. What is the function of each part of the task? What decisions do you have to make and when? Helps Planning Response Helps Choose Task

Planning and Writing your Response Good idea to do a quick/basic plan first Put a line through the plan when finished Could make a quick note of quotations you will use Be clear about your line of argument – what are you proving/arguing in your essay?

Your Response Should Demonstrate (success criteria) UNDERSTANDING (What the text is about) - of the text ‘as a whole’ - of the ‘central concerns of the text’ - of the task

Your Response Should Demonstrate (success criteria) ANALYSIS (Techniques/Effects/How created) - ‘thorough awareness’ of the writer’s techniques - ‘confident use of’ critical terminology - ‘very detailed/thoughtful’ explanation of how stylistic devices create certain effects/meaning - ‘a range of’ well chosen references/quotations

Your Response Should Demonstrate (success criteria) EVALUATION (How effective text & techniques are) - ‘very well developed’ commentary of what has been enjoyed/gained - genuine engagement with themes/purpose - success of techniques and effects - ‘a range of well-chosen’ references to relevant features

Your Response Should Demonstrate (success criteria) EXRESSION (clarity & sophistication of response) - clear line of thought through use of language - spelling/grammar/punctuation/sentence construction ‘consistently accurate’ - structured effectively – enhances meaning/purpose - paragraphing ‘accurate & effective’

REMEMBER! A Critical Essay IS A Discursive Essay Arguing/Proving something about Text Must have a clear line of argument throughout Must have Evidence to support points Clear & logical Structure Explain significance of evidence = analysis Conclusion – conclude line of argument Topic Sentences/Linkage/Transitional Markers Introduction – set up line of argument

INTRODUCTIONS TITLE (in inverted commas, with capitals) Type of Text (‘genre’ – poem, novel etc.) Writer’s Name (first time in full, thereafter just surname – remember caps) Reference to Task (set up line of argument which should be based around words of task) Some context (demonstrate your knowledge of text) Reference to Key Themes/Message/Pur pose (again show understanding – might be built into task) Evaluative Language (show your engagement)

‘The Veldt’, by Ray Bradbury, is a thought- provoking short story which deals with an important social issue, which is society’s over- reliance on technology and the damaging effects this can have. Despite being written in the 1950s, a time when the television was enjoying a Golden age and becoming more common in people’s homes, Bradbury still successfully delivers a powerful and ominous message which is still pertinent in today’s society. Through a variety of clever techniques, Bradbury effectively warns us that an over-reliance on technology can severely damage our relationships and leave us unable to do things for ourselves.

MAIN PARAGRAPHS Topic Sentences Main Points of Analysis Evidence – at least one quotation Sub- conclusion Evaluative Language

TOPIC SENTENCES Introduce Focus of Paragraph Link To Task Create sense of Linkage/Progression = Transitional Markers Use Writer’s name to stay analytical Evaluative Language

Furthermore, Bradbury’s effective use of imagery helps to convey his warning by creating a sinister and ominous atmosphere around the technology in the house and nursery.

QUOTATIONS Must be followed by an analytical comment – explanation of what it suggests/shows and how Must be properly integrated Introduce Focus of Paragraph Evaluative Language Vary/avoid ‘This Shows’

Bradbury suggests the realistic nature of the nursery by using the senses to create a vivid and overpowering impression. We are told that George ‘could feel [the hot sun] on his neck like a hot paw’. Here, the physicality of the comparison emphasises how real the African Veldland seems, whilst the idea of the paw conjures up the image of the lions and makes even the sun seem threatening, as though it could pounce at any moment.

Bradbury suggests the realistic nature of the nursery by using the senses to create a vivid and overpowering impression. Whilst in the nursery, George takes in his surroundings: ‘That sun. He could feel it on his neck like a hot paw’. Here, the physicality of the comparison emphasises how real the African Veldland seems, whilst the idea of the paw conjures up the image of the lions and makes even the sun seem threatening, as though it could pounce at any moment.

SUB-CONCLUSIONS Refocus on the Task Sum up/bring together the points of the paragraph Use Writer’s name to stay analytical Evaluative Language Relate points to theme/purpose – may be necessary to task

By combining vivid similes and metaphors when describing the technology within the house, Bradbury creatively delivers his warning and implies the potential threat that an over-reliance on technology could have within society.

CONCLUSIONS Sums up main line of argument Refocuses On Task Sums up main points relating to task/argument Restate title, writer’s full name, type of text Evaluative Language

Overall, Ray Bradbury successfully explores an important social issue in his powerful short story ‘The Veldt’. Through a combination of clever characterisation, vivid imagery and an ironic ending, Bradbury delivers a stark warning about the danger of relying too heavily on technology. The story skilfully leaves us wondering whether the seemingly exaggerated ‘Happylife Home’ is in fact closer to modern living than Bradbury could ever have imagined.

Varying ‘This Shows’ Conveys Implies Reveals Indicates Highlights Illuminates Depicts Embodies Evokes Suggests Reinforces Emphasises Portrays Here Bradbury indicates… By comparing… Bradbury suggests that… The image of… embodies the idea that…

Evaluative Language Successfully Effectively Skilfully Creatively Cleverly Imaginatively Powerfully Emotively Evocatively Realistically Harrowingly Disturbingly and in honour of Miss Ross… Poignantly This successful portrayal of… The powerful way in which… The setting is effective in…