Essays

Question 1

Literary essay

Definition

Answer 1

• closely study text, interpret its meaning & explore why author made certain choices
• applied to any form of literary writing (novels, plays, poems etc.)
• not just rhetorical analysis nor summary or book review → argumentative essay
• analyze language, perspective, structure & literary devices

Question 2

Literary essay

1) Read text & identifying literary devices

Answer 2

• take initial notes
• pay attention to most surprising or even confusing things in text
• if more texts compared: look for connections
• look out for **********language choices, narrative voice & structure**********
• novel: chapters, parts
• poetry: lines, stanzas, rhyme & meter
• play: scenes, acts, relationships between characters, setting & dramatic irony

Question 3

Literary essay

2) Coming up with thesis

Answer 3

• point you want to make about text, gives essay a direction
• needs to answer / relate to prompt
• should be arguable
• something that is true about text but not a simple matter of fact

Question 4

Literary essay

3) Write title & introduction

Answer 4

• title should clearly indicate what your essay will focus on → contains name of author & text
• engaging as possible, eg. “Fearful symmetry”: The violence of creation in William Blake’s “The Tyger”
• intro: tells what your essay will focus on
• begin with general statement about text & mention essay’s structure

Question 5

Literary essay

4) Write body

Answer 5

• builds an argument using evidence from text
• each paragraph focuses on one topic
• topic sentence at the beginning → transition words
• use textual evidence

Question 6

Literary essay

5) Write conclusion

Answer 6

• clearly states main point that had been shown in analysis
• no new arguments

Question 7

Literary essay

5) Write conclusion

Answer 7

• clearly states main point that had been shown in analysis
• no new arguments

Question 8

Both essays

Useful Phrases

Answer 8

Intro:

“**********The aim/purpose/intention of this essay is to”
”This essay outlines/contains/examines”**********

Opinion essay:

******“In my opinion/view/experience”
”I have the feeling/impression that
”I would like to point out that”
”Personally, I feel very strongly that”
”It seems to me that”
”It strikes me that”
”In my experience”******

Discursive essay:
****”On the one hand… on the other hand”
”All in all”
”But in fact”
”Personally,”
”Others, however”
”It is often said that”
”Nevertheless, it is true to say that”
”But at the same time”****

Linking Words:
****”Due to the fact that…”
”Because of”
”Since/As”
”Moreover”
”…namely..”****

Conclusion:
****”All things considered”
”In conclusion”
”I conclude that”
”I would suggest that”
”To put it in a nutshell”****

Question 9

Essay

Definition

Answer 9

• discuss issue / inform / convince reader of your opinion
• read by teacher / jury
• neutral & formal language
• reader not addressed directly by questions
• no contractions (❌it’s) & no personal pronouns (❌I, you)
• title → factual & should state topic

Question 10

Essay

Structure

Answer 10

1) Introduction: thesis statement

• introduces topic
• ends with thesis statement → makes clear what you think about issue

2) Main Body: explaining & providing thesis statement

• paragraphs in which you discuss ideas in details
• each paragraph → 1 argument that reflects opinion
• always starts with topics sentence followed by explanation & examples

3) Conclusion: summary

• summarises/paraphrases your opinion based on arguments given in main body
• ****NO**** new ideas!!