Download Critical Essay Structure

Critical Essay Structure
Intro – you should by now be at the stage where your
introduction can be written fairly quickly.
T - title
A - author
R - reference to question (include the key words)
T - themes
S – brief summary of the plot
Main Paragraph Structure
Main body paragraphs can be broken down into 4
stages – these stages are aligned with the marking
criteria for a critical essay.
The first stage is Point.
This stage is aligned with your understanding of the
text.
Point
This section of your paragraph comprises of 2
sentences:


The first sentence is a topic sentence – this should
contain the key words for the question and give a
focus for the paragraph.
The second sentence is a context sentence – this
should describe what is happening in the text.
Point
Example:
The first stanza of the poem is crucial in establishing the
setting and, more importantly, the reader’s sympathy for the
central character. The reader finds him a lonely and
tormented man, trying to cope with the pressures of his job
as he develops photographs in his “darkroom”; this setting is
potentially symbolic, as the ambiguity of the word suggests
not only the literal room in which he develops his photos, but
also the idea of psychological darkness. Yet, paradoxically,
the darkroom is both a symbol of his mental imprisonment
and a place of refuge from the stresses of his job.
Main Paragraph Structure
Main body paragraphs can be broken down into 4
stages – these stages are aligned with the marking
criteria for a critical essay.
The second stage is Evidence.
This stage is also aligned with your understanding of the
text.
Evidence
This section of your paragraph comprises of an
introductory statement and a quotation from the text.
Example:
For example, in “finally alone” at the end of the line.
Main Body Paragraphs
Main body paragraphs can be broken down into 4
stages – these stages are aligned with the marking
criteria for a critical essay.
The third stage is Explanation.
This stage is aligned with the analysis of the text.
Explanation
Example:
The inversion of these words emphasises his solitude.
These words seem to suggest that solitude is an escape
for the photographer. As we read on, we are able to
understand why – his job involves a continuous strain on
his emotions. He is clearly a caring and sensitive man
who understands the terrible suffering he documents.
This compassion has been tested however.
Explanation
The evidence and explanation stages can, and, in the case of
poetry, should be repeated until there is a detailed justification
of the point.
Example cont.
As we read on, we are able to understand why – his job involves
a continuous strain on his emotions. He is clearly a caring and
sensitive man who understands the terrible suffering he
documents. This compassion has been tested however. The “spools
of suffering” that he develops are laid out in “ordered rows”
suggesting that he tries to bring order to his world wherever he
can, knowing how much disorder and chaos there is elsewhere.
Main Body Paragraph
The fourth stage is Referring back to the
themes/question
This stage – combined with analysis - is aligned with
the evaluation of the text.
Example:
This whole opening section defines the photographer as
the sole compassionate figure in the poem. He is
anonymous – a figurehead for the entire profession –
who represents the kind of caring, concerned person
who might undertake the job of documenting important
conflicts and atrocities.
Conclusion
C – Concluding word/phrase
T - Title
A- Author
R – Ref. to q
S – Summarise main points of essay
Conclusion
Example:
In conclusion, ‘War Photographer’ by Carol Ann Duffy
successfully portrays the conflicts and tensions which are an
inherent part of any war photographer’s life. Where she
excels, is in exposing the terrible dilemma of the job: the
inner conflict between carrying out an undeniably worthy job
and maintaining a sense of compassion towards the
relentless suffering you are confronted with, creating a
profound feeling of sympathy for character of the
photographer. Through her use of language, the poet not
only tugs at the reader’s heartstrings, but forces them to
consider their own attitudes towards suffering.
How many paragraphs?
You should be aiming to write at least 4 detailed main
body paragraphs to achieve in the top range of
marks.
Timings
5 minutes – plan
5 minutes – intro and conclusion
8 minutes - for each main body paragraph
3 minutes – read over