1. The Art of Writing English Literature Essays
A Level Activities to improve
your writing

2. The critical terminology of drama
Look at the following key terms and definitions, decide which apply to the text you are studying and make a list in your reading journal
Anagnorisis – the moment in which the protagonist realises a fundamental truth about their situation which they have not understood before
Aside – words spoken by a character as if to the audience, unheard by the other characters
Catharsis – the emotional release of tension the audience experience at the end of tragedies (according to Aristotle)
Comedy of manners – a play which ridicules the social conventions of a society
Farce – a slapstick type of comedy in which comic situations are pushed to an extreme of improbability
Hamartia – in tragedies, a flaw in the central character that leads to their destruction
Soliloquy – a type of monologue in which a character reveals thoughts directly to the audience
Stichomythia – choppy patterning of lines alternating between characters
Tragic flaw – another term for hamartia
Tragi-comedy – plays which mix tragedy and comedy
There will be additional slides covering poetry and prose

3. Key features of successful essays
What are the key features of good literature essays? Make a list now. Then put them in order of importance. Compare with the list below:
Answers the question
Is well structured, developing a clear line of argument
Uses textual evidence effectively
Includes close analysis of language
Is well expressed and accurately written
Uses a range of contexts effectively
Is interesting to the reader
Has a strong introduction and conclusion
Demonstrates independent thought, personal engagement and some originality
Engages in informed critical debate
Uses advanced critical vocabulary
Fulfils the assessment objectives
The 1-12 list reveals on click

4. I essay, you essay, we all essay
Discuss the difference between the noun ‘essay’ and the verb ‘essay’
What are you actually doing when you write an essay?
Crystalising your thoughts
Discovering and developing your critical voice
Reflecting on your understanding

5. warning
The image on the next slide is extremely distressing. I have used it to provoke your reaction and to demonstrate the four basic principles of developing a critical response. Please treat this image with the respect it deserves.
Please feel free to choose an alternative image.

6. Expressing your Opinions, ideas, values, feelings
Look at the image. Discuss all of the above.

7. HO72 Drama and prose post-1900 (Component 02)
The Great Gatsby
30 mark essay
AO5 (Explore literary texts informed by different interpretations.) is not examined in this unit.

8. Shakespeare and poetry pre-1900 (Component 01)
The Tempest
30 Mark essay

9. Assessment objectives and weightings
If your essay is worth 30 marks, discuss how these marks might be allocated for each of your exams
Think back to recent essays and written work - what marks did you achieve? What are your areas of weakness? Have these changed over time? What can you do to improve your grade?

10. A golden formula? PEE+E PEAL
TOC: Themes, organisation of ideas, context
Discourse markers
Thesis, argument or hypothesis
Introduction, main body, conclusion
Discuss which you think is currently most favoured by exam boards.

11. Horror writing
Read the two introductions to essays you have been given
Make a note of all their faults
Then read the next example introduction and try to identify why it is better than the previous two
Intros from pg 13-16

14. Answering the question
Most A Level questions focus on a specific aspect of the text(s) studied. The most popular are:
Character
Character relationships
Themes
What else might they focus on?
Come up with a sample question for each for the text you are studying
Genre, language, structure

15. Discuss the different definitions of each
Essay verbs
Discuss the different definitions of each
Discuss
Explore
Explain
Examine
Phrases include:
To what extent do you agree…
Evaluate the view that…
They signal more than one opinion and you will need to consider counter arguments.
How are these questions different?
Discuss how Wilfred Owen conveys the experience of comradeship in Strange Meeting
How does Wilfred Owen convey the experience of comradeship in Strange Meeting?
What are the experiences of comradeship articulated in Strange Meeting?
Discuss implies that issues have not been resolved, it suggests a number of different views
Notice small words like how, what do they imply?
Explore and examine suggest an open process of investigation whose results are to be determined in the essay, requires careful, close inspection of text

16. Dissecting a question Plan: Jot down ideas to support this contention
To what extent do you agree that The Tempest is a comedy?
This is a contention
Plan:
Jot down ideas to support this contention
Think of counter arguments
The best candidates pay closest attention to language of the text and of the question set.
Does the question suggest a particular reading: e.g. psychoanalytical/feminist/Marxist etc
Does the above question suggest a particular critical approach?

17. Dissecting a question (again!)
‘Prospero is a commanding character who likes to be in control’
This is a proposition
In the light of this statement, discuss the way in which Shakespeare presents the character of Prospero through the use of language in Act 1 Scene 2.
Plan:
Jot down ideas to support this proposition
Think of counter arguments
The best candidates pay closest attention to language of the text and of the question set.
Does the question suggest a particular reading: e.g. psychoanalytical/feminist/Marxist etc
Does the above question suggest a particular critical approach?

18. Homework
Using one of the detailed essay plans you have created, write the introduction to the essay.
Find specific quotes to support each of your points.

19. Critical theory vs criticism
What are the key aspects of your culture. Create a mindmap or collage to depict this
Literary context
criticism
Socio-historical context
Criticism is text specific, theory is more interested in how culture operates and thus, how texts operate in culture. Critical theory is similar to context in that it seeks to show what texts reveal about cultural values
Author’s biographical context

20. Critical theory Why bother applying theory to texts?
Undertake independent research of the history of critical theory. Choose one of the following tasks to complete:
Produce a timeline to show the emergence of different schools of theory, identify which may illuminate the text you are studying
Produce a revision handout of one theory. Include its key concepts and theorists as an extra challenge, try applying this reading to the text you are studying
Theory can unlock unexplored paths of interpretation