Paper 1: Past Papers, Scripts, Advice... Click on P1 folder icon below

P1

What does a good literary essay look like?

70% of English A1 is assessed by literary essays.  It is therefore important that you crack the "code" of how to write a really good essay.   The following generic advice on essay writing should be followed for every English essay you write (and will help your essay writing in other subjects too).

1. Firstly, remember to:

• write the title of the essay at the top of the page
• use italics, inverted commas or underlining to indicate the title of a text
• use the author's full name or surname
• write about literature in the present tense
• use formal, precise language: aim to say something very clever very simply
• use the correct terminology for the text you are writing about (is it a novel, a play, a poem?)

2. Include an introduction which:

• is one, concise paragraph
• shows that you understand the essay title
• focuses on the specific text (or extract) you are writing about
• sets out a clear argument

3. In the main body of the essay:

• structure paragraphs: Point - Evidence - Analysis (the evidence should be a quotation)
• P: signpost where each paragraph is going in its first sentence
• E: use short, embedded quotations
• A: analyze the effects of the language you quote; you might use "suggests" or a similar word
• always consider how the author is shaping meaning
• refer to literary techniques but always give examples and analyze their effects
• always refer back to the main "thread" of the argument so that you answer the question
• use linking words in your writing
• show awareness of different possible interpretations and contexts

4. Write a concise conclusion pulling together the threads of your essay.

Approaches to poetry and tips for annotation

After you've read the poem over a couple of times take a pencil or pen and follow these instructions:

1. Reflect on the poem's title.   Circle the title and draw a quick "map" of denotations and connotations.  The title is our first way in: how does the writer use it?

2. Summarise the basic sense of the poem: who is speaking? To whom? About what? For what purpose? When and/or where (if relevant)? And how (tone)?

3. Paraphrase any problematic lines or sentences.  A "problematic line" could present an opportunity for exploring ambiguity.  Don't ignore these.  Some poems written in a modern idiom don't require much paraphrasing; other poems may require more.  An important part of the process may be that you analyse with precision the exact meaning of key words: verbs, for example, act as "hinges" of meaning.

4. Note the poem's use of language: remember that the basic building blocks are words.  How would you assess the poem's diction overall? Is the poem's language formal or casual? Does it have jargon and slang? Why? Is more concrete, or abstract? Precise or ambiguous? How does tone appear as a function of diction? How does the poet manipulate syntax? Why?

5. Map the poem's tensions and contrasts.  Many oppositions and dichotomies are possible here, and many poems use contrasts of various sorts as levels with which they "move" the poem's meaning.  One teacher has remarked that poetry is "moment, movement, and meaning", meaning that a poem establishes a moment, or an occasion, an issue, an image, a dilemma, a voice, etc., then the poem moves from this initial state; and the overall effect of that movement on the reader indicates or otherwise suggests the poem's meaning.  Tensions and oppositions may come in the form of contrasts between: speaker and situation; our view and the speaker's view; sides of a dilemma or problem; sets of images; past and present; levels of diction, even before form and content. Typically, irony is present in some form or another.  The "mapping" process itself can take whatever form you feel comfortable with: coloured pencils, circling, etc.

6. Scan the poem for poem for structure: is there a rhyme scheme? What other rhythmic features are present?  Look for half rhymes.  Identify traditional patterns (fixed forms such as sonnet, ballad) that are defined in part by rhyme.  Remember: poets writing in closed form craft their own structures that they then adhere to.  Write EF for effect of poem, and write some sentences on it.

7. Interpret.  In the broadest sense this is not just a statement (and avoid using "this shows"), and it doesn't mean that your interpretation is withheld until the last paragraph; indeed, once you have annotated it could form the part of your introduction.

Approaches to prose and tips for annotation

1. Read the passage and begin by jotting down your own reactions and observations.  As a second or third stage, the following may help and explore further and organise your ideas.

2. Focus.  What is the passage about? Is it about a decision a character takes? A revelation made, or an event revealed? Or does it display a person's circumstances and character? Find a focus?

3. Is the attitude of the narrator significant? If so, what is the narrator's attitude to his/her subject? What is the tone of the passage?

4. From what point of view is the passage told? Does this change in the course of the passage? Is there a shift in perspective?  What are the effects.?

5. Is there a central character? What do we learn about him/her? How do we learn this: through others' comments, through descriptions, through interior monologue, or what? Is there anything significant about his/her relationship? How do we feel about him/her/them?

6. Characters: if several what is the relationship between them? Is there conflict? Of what kind? What effect does this have?

7. Chronology/time: is the passage narrated chronologically, or does it look forwards or backwards at any point? In either case, why is this done? What does it achieve? Is time of significance?

8. Structure: How is the passage structured? Does it fall into several sections, or is it one unbroken piece of writing? What effect does its structure have? On what rationale is its structure based? (eg different stages of a journey? A progression of thought? Something else?)

9. Setting: is setting significant in this passage? If so, is there one setting, or several? What part does setting play? Are characters in harmony with it, or in opposition? Does it carry particular associations, or create a certain atmosphere?

10. Language: what part does description play? Does it provide setting, add to atmosphere, tell us about the characters, or what? How are images used, and what effect to they create? Comment on images and diction enhance meaning?

11. Dialogue: how does this function in the passage, if present.  What purpose does it serve?

12. Beginning/ending: is there anything striking about either of both of these?

13. Punctuation: is there anything unusual about the punctuation? Sentence length and complexity? Does this add to meaning?

14. How are we being invited to read this passage? With empathy, experiencing the feelings and thoughts of the characters or narrator? Critically? With judgement? With curiosity? Something else?
 
Approaches to prose non-fiction and tips for annotation

1. What is the purpose of the writing? What is the writer's intentions? To persuade? Educate? Arouse emotion? Amuse? Describe?

2. For what kind of an audience is it probably intended? What suggests this?

3. How far do cultural, social, historic, or other contexts drive the material?

4. Viewpoint: from what standpoint does the writer approach his/her piece? As an older reflective self, a witness, a central character? Something else?

5. Tone or attitude: angry? Nostalgic? Restrained? Affectionate? Satirical? Other?

6. Voice and character of the narrator/writer: what impression do we have of the narrator/writer?

7. What is the structure of the piece?

8. What is the predominant method of development: narration, description, examples, or what?

9. Is there anything striking about the sentence or paragraph or paragraph structure? If so, what effect is caused by this? Are there other effects of punctuation?

10. is imagery present? To what effect?

11. Are figures of speech used (metaphors, similes, alliteration, etc)? How effectively? Allusions?

12. is the diction interesting? Recurrent?

13. What do I respond to most in this piece?

Diaries

Does it seem intended for an audience? How formal or conscious does this style seem?

Autobiography

What motives seem to drive the writing? How far does the wrier seem to distance himself  from the events described?

Essay

How interesting, perceptive, forceful, or unusual are the ideas expressed? How are they developed?