1. Fat Boy Swim
Critical Essay

2. A critical essay is a piece of writing analysing a text or texts
A critical essay is a piece of writing analysing a text or texts. It is not a personal review!

3. Statement
Evidence
Analysis
Link
Every paragraph must be SEALed!

4. QUESTION
In the novel ‘Fat Boy Swim’ by Catherine Forde the protagonist (main character or characters), Jimmy is someone we see change and grow throughout the novel. Discuss with reference to theme, setting and characterisation the changes we see in Jimmy and what causes them.

5. Paragraph 1 Introduction (approx. 50 words)
Name of book – ‘Fat Boy Swim’
Name of author – Catherine Forde
Very brief summary of story (no more than two lines)
Reference to the question – what essay is about
What is the change in Jimmy - confidence
Any other interesting information but not too much!

6. Paragraph 2 Technique - characterisation
As we are showing a change in the character we must look at before and after. We need to show how he lacks confidence at the beginning, how we see change and what he’s like at the end.

7. Beginning
What is Jimmy like at the beginning with regards to his confidence?
He lacks confidence.
What characters cause him to have a lack of confidence?
Bullies – unsympathetic, nasty
Mum – over-protective, over-powering
G.I. Joe – pushy, harsh, tough, determined
Aunt Pol – realistic, truthful
Teachers – undermining, disrespectful
Members of the public – disrespectful, mean, inconsiderate, insensitive

8. Paragraph 2 (approx. 100 words)
Statement – The first sentence of your statement must be a topic sentence. A topic sentence introduces what the paragraph will be about and should mention the key information:
The technique you are writing about
Refer to question
[The technique of characterisation is used to show that Jimmy changes throughout the novel.] We see this at the beginning when Jimmy seriously lacks confidence which is a result of/is not helped by…

9. Choose your character Choose one Bullies – unsympathetic, nasty
Mum – over-protective, over-powering
G.I. Joe – pushy, harsh, tough, determined
Aunt Pol – realistic, truthful
Teachers – undermining, disrespectful
Members of the public – disrespectful, mean, inconsiderate, insensitive
Choose one

10. Evidence – Choose a quotation which supports your statement
Evidence – Choose a quotation which supports your statement. Shows how the character point of your chosen character contributes to Jimmy’s lack of confidence.

11. Analysis – You need to analyse how your evidence supports your statement

12. Link – refer back to the question
Link – refer back to the question. How does the point you have made answer the question? In this case, how does the point you have made show that Jimmy lacks confidence in the beginning?

13. Paragraph 3 Technique - Characterisation
Middle – What is Jimmy like in the/towards the middle of the book with regards to confidence (we need to see a change or the process of change). You need to show him beginning to grow in confidence.
What characters help him gain confidence towards the middle of the book?
Ellie – sympathetic, understands him, has empathy with him
G. I. Joe – encouraging, determined, helpful, harsh and fair
Aunt Pol – supporting, understanding, positive, realistic

14. Paragraph 3 – 100 words approximately
Statement – [Towards the middle of the book Jimmy starts to grow in confidence]. The technique of characterisation is used to show this when…
You choose a character
Ellie – sympathetic, understands him, has empathy with him
G. I. Joe – encouraging, determined, helpful, harsh and fair
Aunt Pol – supporting, understanding, positive, realistic

15. Evidence – Quotation that backs up your statement

16. Analysis – must show how your evidence. proves that your statement is
Analysis – must show how your evidence proves that your statement is true.

17. Link – Link back to the question, to show
Link – Link back to the question, to show you are answering the question

18. Paragraph 4 Technique - Characterisation
Statement – [At/towards the end of the book Jimmy has confidence]. The technique of characterisation is used to show this when…
You choose a character
G.I.Joe- determined, successful, supportive
Granny – supportive, truthful

19. Paragraph 4 – approximately 100 words
Statement
Evidence
Analysis
Link
Remember we are looking at the technique of characterisation and showing how Jimmy is confident towards the end.

20. Paragraph 5