Critical essay Flashcards
What is the value of the Critical Essay component in the exam?
20% of your overall grade
What types of texts will you encounter in the Critical Essay section?
Prose, poetry, drama, film and television, or language
How many questions are provided in the Critical Essay section?
Two questions
What is advised before choosing a question to answer?
Read each question two or three times
What is essential to engage with in your essay at Higher level?
Relevant features of the genre
How long do you have to complete the Critical Essay?
45 minutes
What are the key components to include in your essay structure?
- Introduction
- Summary of text
- Main paragraphs
- Conclusion
What should the introduction of your essay include?
- Author
- Title
- Task
- Techniques
What should the summary of the text focus on?
Bits of the poem/story/play/film relevant to your question
How many main paragraphs should your essay contain?
4 to 5 paragraphs
What should the main paragraphs analyze and evaluate?
The writer’s use of literary techniques
What should you make concrete links to in your main paragraphs?
The question
What aspects should you be familiar with if you studied a play or novel/short story?
- Characterisation
- Setting
- Theme
- Authorial presentation of complex human emotions
- Exploration of complicated moral questions
What additional aspects might you have examined?
- Effective openings and endings
- A key incident
- A turning point
What do essay questions at Higher require you to consider?
How a writer examines setting/characters/theme and the evaluative judgement on their wider impact or effectiveness
True or False: You will have access to notes or essay plans during the exam.
False
Fill in the blank: During the course of the year, you should have comprehensively studied your _______.
[essay text]
