Critical Essay Writing

1. Critical Essay Writing Structuring an Essay

2. Critical Essay – Structure 1. Introduction • Explains to the reader what the essay is about. 2. Plot Summary • Provides a brief summary of the text(s) being addressed (sometimes included as part of the introduction). 3. Body • The main section of the essay. This is where the question that has been set will be addressed. 4. Conclusion • Summarises the main points the reader has made in the body of the essay.

3. Critical Essay Writing Introduction

4. Critical Essay - Introduction Purpose The Introduction section of a Critical Essay should explain to the reader what the Critical Essay is about. Content The Introduction section should typically include the following information: • The title(s) of the text(s) you are writing about (put this inside quotation marks, e.g. “The Great Gatsby”). • The author(s) of the text(s) you are writing about. • The genre of the text(s) (e.g. novel / drama / poem / short story) • The themes of the text(s) you are writing about (e.g. friendship, poverty, the importance of history, bullying, racism, etc) • A reference to the question that the essay attempts to address.

5. Critical Essay Introduction – Example 1 “War Photographer” by Carol Ann Duffy is an interesting poem that explores a range of issues, such as war and social responsibility. The following essay will demonstrate how Duffy’s poem explores the theme of war.

6. Critical Essay Introduction – Example 2 “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” The opening sentence of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is arguably as famous as the novel itself, and is frequently referenced when illustrating Austen’s skill as a writer. However, as well being a perfect example of the writer’s ability, and of the dry humour that runs throughout the novel, that first sentence perfectly highlights what is perhaps the most prominent theme of “Pride and Prejudice” – British society’s preoccupation with marriage. Through an examination of the novel’s two central characters – Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam D’Arcy – it is possible to see how Austen reflects on the institution of marriage in her society.