Download Essay Writing at Level 3

ESSAY WRITING AT LEVEL 2
Preparation for External Standards
Analyse the question
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At Level 2, the questions are more complex than Level 1.
The question will require careful reading for understanding before
you begin.
Examples:
a) Poetry and / or song lyrics often capture brief moments in which
there is a search for meaning in human lives.
Analyse how the writer has explored aspects of human experience,
such as love, regret, joy, or racism, in at least TWO poems and / or song
lyrics you have studied.
b) In short written texts, writers often use symbols to represent complex
or significant ideas.
Analyse how symbols have been used to develop your understanding of
people OR ideas in at least TWO short written texts you have studied.
In short written texts, writers often use symbols to represent complex or significant ideas.
Analyse how symbols have been used to develop your understanding of people
OR ideas in at least TWO short written texts you have studied.
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Poets use symbols to link extensive ideas to small
earthly objects to make the ideas accessible to their
readers. In his poems, Simon Armitage uses symbols
to express his ideas about human relationships. In
‘Mother...’, he uses a measuring tape, kite and
anchor to express his thoughts on the separation of
children from their parents. In ‘I am very...’, he uses
a burnt finger to symbolise ideas about marriage,
attraction and love.
Analyse the Question 2
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Underline KEY WORDS
Identify what is being asked, which ASPECTS of the
text you are expected to cover and what CONTENT
you are expected to know and use.
Identify what you have to offer an OPINION on.
Zero Draft
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Clear your head by zero drafting – an extremely
loose brainstorm.
Write down any thoughts you have, no matter how
random. Don’t censor yourself at this stage (“that’s
stupid/irrelevant/not what they want”).
Draw lines or in your own way start making
connections between your thoughts and the question.
Go back to the question and think – what opinion
have I formed?
Thesis Statement
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In a Level 2 essay, aim to offer a thesis statement:
your main point, summed up in a concise sentence
that lets the reader know where you're going, and
why.
This summarises your opinion on the debate that is
implied in the question.
The idea is to look like you are offering an
informed point of view on the topic: a clear
assertion that you can write your entire essay
around.
Outline
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The rest of the introduction outlines how you’re going to
prove your case.
Your second sentence should mention the author, and
how his/her work supports the case you stated in the
first sentence.
Your next sentence should state which texts you will be
discussing and (briefly) the topics you will conver in
each paragraph.
Your introduction should start ‘globally’ with your thesis
statement, then move ‘locally’ to mention your texts and
arguments.
Body Paragraphs
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Each body paragraph should, as you know, develop
one of the main ideas mentioned in your
introduction.
The key difference is that you are arguing a case.
The tone should be formal, but persuasive.
You should offer a variety of quotations and
explanations to support your points.
At the end of each paragraph, you should re-visit
your thesis, linking back to the introduction and on
to your next paragraph.
Conclusion
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The introduction moved from local to global. A good
conclusion will do the reverse: move from the texts
back out to the thesis statement.
Try to gracefully exit your essay by making a quick
wrap-up sentence, and then end on some
memorable thought, perhaps a quotation, or an
interesting twist of logic.
Language
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You haven’t finished writing your essay until you've
polished your language by:
correcting the grammar,
making sentences flow,
incoporating rhythm, emphasis,
adjusting the formality,
giving it a level-headed tone,
and making other intuitive edits.
Proofread until it reads just how you want it to sound.
Writing an essay can be tedious, but you don't want to
bungle the hours of conceptual work you've put into
writing your essay by leaving a few slippy misppallings
and pourly wordedd phrazies..