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Writing a Critical Essay

This critical essay analyzes the key ideas, techniques, and effectiveness of literary methods used in the text. Through structured sections focusing on statements, evidence, analysis, and personal response, the essay provides an in-depth evaluation while avoiding mere storytelling.

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Writing a Critical Essay

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  1. Writing a Critical Essay Standard Grade

  2. Points to Note • Your essay is a response to a specific task – you MUST focus on this task! • Avoid simply retelling the story – this is NOT what is required. • Everything you say should be relevant to the essay task.

  3. Introduction • Your introduction should include: • Title • Author • Brief summary of the text • The focus of your essay

  4. Main Part • You will need to demonstrate: • That you understand the key ideas in the text • That you can analyseand explain the effect of techniques used in the text • That you can evaluate the effectiveness of techniques used • That you can provide a personal response related to your understanding/analysis/ evaluation

  5. Structure of Main Part • Each section of your essay should begin with a topic sentence related to the essay task. • Go on to make a STATEMENT about the text which is relevant to the task. • Then provide EVIDENCE from the text to support your statement.(This can be either a direct quotation of a paraphrase.) • Then ANALYSE your evidence – what techniques are used, what effect does it have? • At the end of each section (or whenever appropriate) include your PERSONAL RESPONSE to the text.

  6. Conclusion • Your conclusion should return to the task set and summarise your response to it. • You can include your evaluation of the text as a whole.

  7. REMEMBER! • STATEMENT • EVIDENCE • ANALYSIS • S-E-A • PERSONAL RESPONSE

  8. AVOID • Retelling the story without attempting to analyse and evaluate • Using the word “quote” or “quotation” • Including huge chunks of text as quotations • Including information which is not relevant to the task

  9. Useful Phrases • As the plot develops, … • The writer’s word choice here is effective because… • The sentence structure here is effective because… • This metaphor is effective because… • The writer’s use of simile is effective because… • In my opinion… • I think this shows…because • I felt …. when I read this because • The character’s actions here reveal… • The author’s characterisation is convincing because…

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