1. Exam questions
Describe a moment of tension in the novel you have studied this year.

2. Plan
Opening:
Body:
Conclusion:

3. 1. Opening A) Answer the question directly here:
The novel I have studied this year, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, is full of tense moments, but the one with the greatest tension comes at the end of the trial of one of the characters.
B) Say what the novel is about:
‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is the story of a black man accused of raping a white woman in Alabama during the 1930s. The man, Tom Robinson, is defended by a venerable, white lawyer – Atticus Finch. We follow Atticus’ fight for justice for Tom through the eyes of his daughter, Scout. She and her brother, Jem, are two of the main characters in the novel.
C) Say what you are going to write about:
This essay will now discuss one of the many moments of tension in this novel: the decision in the Tom Robinson court case.

4. Opening paragraph
The novel I have studied this year, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee, is full of tense moments, but the one with the greatest tension comes at the end of the trial of one of the characters. To Kill a Mockingbird’ is the story of a black man accused of raping a white woman in Alabama during the 1930s. The man, Tom Robinson, is defended by a venerable, white lawyer – Atticus Finch. We follow Atticus’ fight for justice for Tom through the eyes of his daughter, Scout. She and her brother, Jem, are two of the main characters in the novel. This essay will now discuss one of the many moments of tension in this novel: the decision in the Tom Robinson court case.

5. 2. Body What happens? Who – exactly – is involved?
Where does the tension come from? (What do you want to know? What do you care about? Why do you care?)
What do we learn about the characters from their response to this moment?

6. 3. Conclusion Say what you have already said:
This essay has discussed a moment of great tension in the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’.
Comment on it but DO NOT INTRODUCE NEW INFORMATION :
It is clear from what I have written that the tension comes about because we care about the characters, and want good things to happen to them. Harper Lee showed great skill to use so much tension in her book – it kept the reader interested until the final page.