Top 10 Tips for How to Write A*/8 & 9 English Literature Essay 2018 // GCSE & A level English Lit

Summary

In this video, the speaker provides detailed tips on how to write a good essay, particularly for English literature. They emphasize the importance of staying relevant to the question, planning effectively, and using strong vocabulary. The speaker also advises embedding quotes seamlessly and analyzing them deeply. They discuss the significance of structure, alternative interpretations, and the value of practicing sophisticated writing techniques. Throughout, the speaker shares personal insights on improving essay quality and handling exam pressure. Overall, the video is aimed at helping students improve their essay-writing skills and perform well in exams.

Takeaways

• 📝 Be familiar with the marking scheme to know what examiners expect in your essay, especially regarding context and typicality.
• ⏳ Planning is essential even in timed exams; spend 5-10 minutes making a rough plan before writing your essay.
• 📋 Stay relevant to the question at all times. Continuously rephrase the question to ensure you're directly answering it.
• 🔑 Use the author's name frequently in your essay to acknowledge the work is constructed by the writer and not real-life events.
• 💬 Expand your vocabulary with synonyms for common words like 'suggest' to make your writing varied and sophisticated.
• ⚙️ Keep your introduction short and relevant; just a few sentences to introduce context and the main focus without limiting your argument.
• 🔍 Analyze quotes in detail. Use both broad (macro) and specific (micro) analysis, zooming in on individual words and their wider implications.
• 💡 Use comparative points effectively in comparison essays by alternating between texts while keeping a balanced structure.
• 📐 Focus on structure; discuss literary devices like meter, iambic pentameter, and prose, which will strengthen your analysis.
• 🎯 Incorporate alternative interpretations to show a well-rounded argument, but avoid first-person language for a more professional tone.

Q & A

What is the first tip mentioned in the video for writing a good essay?

The first tip is to ensure you are familiar with the assessment objectives (AO) or the marking scheme for your essay, whether for GCSE or A-level exams.

Why is planning and timing important in an exam setting?

Planning and timing are crucial because you only have about five to ten minutes to create a quick plan. Proper planning helps organize thoughts and ensures relevance to the question.

What is the key to writing a good essay in English literature according to the speaker?

The key to writing a good essay in English literature is relevance. You need to stay focused on answering the specific question and avoid getting carried away with unrelated points.

How does the speaker recommend staying relevant in your essay?

The speaker recommends rewording the question into your answer several times throughout the essay, especially at the start and end of each paragraph, to ensure that you stay on topic.

What is the importance of mentioning the author's name in an essay?

Mentioning the author's name (e.g., Shakespeare) demonstrates an understanding that the text is a constructed work and emphasizes the role of the author in shaping the themes and characters.

What advice does the speaker give for improving vocabulary in essays?

The speaker advises having a list of synonyms ready to avoid overusing common words like 'suggest.' Using varied vocabulary (e.g., 'invokes,' 'highlights,' 'demonstrates') enhances the sophistication of the writing.

What is the speaker's opinion on the PE (Point, Evidence, Explanation) structure?

The speaker finds the PE structure limiting, especially for higher-level essays. While it works for many, the speaker prefers a more advanced approach that embeds quotes into sentences and allows for deeper analysis.

What should you focus on when analyzing a quote in-depth?

You should focus on both micro and macro analysis. Micro analysis zooms in on individual words, sound devices, and language, while macro analysis relates the quote to the overall context, themes, and typicality of the text.

How should you structure a comparative essay according to the speaker?

In a comparative essay, start and end each paragraph with a comparative point. Structure your argument like a 'diamond,' comparing both texts at the start, analyzing one in detail, then bringing them back together before moving to the next comparison.

Why is writing sophistication important, and how can it be improved?

Sophistication in writing is important because well-written points can score higher. It can be improved through practice, focusing on vocabulary, and writing essays outside timed conditions to refine the style.

Outlines

00:00

📚 How to Write a Decent Essay

The speaker opens by discussing how writing essays comes naturally to them, although it depends on the question or the topic. They emphasize that success in essay writing often comes from understanding the specific task, like an English literature exam, and ensuring familiarity with the marking scheme (AQA GCSE or A-level). Preparation includes knowing what is expected, such as the inclusion of context or typicality, which depends on the marking criteria. Effective planning and timing, especially in exam settings, is crucial. The speaker highlights that planning within 5-10 minutes is essential and suggests strategies such as underlining key quotes, making quick notes, and organizing ideas before beginning to write.

05:01

✍️ Staying Relevant and Answering the Question

The speaker stresses that staying relevant to the question is the most important aspect of essay writing. They recommend rewording the essay question multiple times throughout the essay to ensure you stay on topic. By doing this, the essay remains focused on answering the question directly. They also suggest using the author's name multiple times (e.g., Shakespeare) to show that the text is a constructed piece and not real life. Another critical point is to have a variety of synonyms ready for words like 'suggest,' to avoid repetition. They also mention avoiding overly long introductions and keeping them concise, just enough to touch on important themes and the argument without being restrictive.

10:02

🔄 Structuring the Essay Beyond PE

The speaker critiques the standard Point-Evidence-Explanation (PEE) structure, arguing that while it works for many, it can be limiting, especially for higher-level writing. They encourage embedding quotes into sentences seamlessly and performing in-depth analysis on those quotes, including examining both broad and specific aspects. For example, they analyze a quote from Shakespeare’s 'Othello,' looking at contextual references (e.g., Venetian women) and linguistic elements like allusions, sound devices, and the form of the text. By doing this, they advocate for deep and layered analysis, focusing on both the micro (e.g., sound) and macro (e.g., context) elements of the text.

🔀 Comparing Texts and Using a Diamond Structure

In this section, the speaker offers advice for writing comparison essays, suggesting a 'diamond' structure. They recommend starting and ending each paragraph with a comparative point, branching out into detailed analysis of each text, and then bringing the two texts back together again. This method keeps the comparison balanced and structured. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of discussing the structure of the text (e.g., meter, rhyme, free verse) in literature essays, especially for poems and plays, and how these elements contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the work.

🎯 Focus on Writing Quality and Alternative Interpretations

The final section highlights the importance of writing quality, not just the content. Sophistication in writing can come through practice and expanding vocabulary. The speaker advises practicing essays without time constraints to focus on developing a more polished writing style. They also suggest including alternative interpretations in essays, such as Marxist or feminist readings, to show a deeper understanding of the text. The conclusion should synthesize the points made without simply repeating earlier arguments. Finally, they emphasize the need to practice under timed conditions to develop the ability to write high-quality essays within the allotted time during exams.

Keywords

💡Planning

Planning in the context of essay writing refers to the preparation phase where the writer organizes their thoughts before starting the essay. The video emphasizes the importance of spending a few minutes to plan, even in exam situations, to outline key points and structure the essay effectively. Planning ensures relevance to the question and helps with the flow of ideas, as seen when the speaker discusses creating a quick, scrappy outline.

💡Relevance

Relevance is a critical aspect of essay writing, meaning that the content of the essay must directly address the question asked. The speaker stresses that even if the essay is well-written, it will not score well if it is not relevant to the question. To maintain relevance, the video suggests repeatedly rewording the question throughout the essay, which ensures the writer stays on topic.

💡Mark Scheme

A mark scheme is a guideline used by examiners to assess students' work, outlining what is expected for each grade band. In the video, the speaker advises becoming familiar with the mark scheme to know what elements are important, such as context or typicality. Understanding the mark scheme helps writers focus on the aspects that will earn them the most marks.

💡Point, Evidence, Explanation (PEE)

PEE is a common essay structure taught in schools, where writers make a Point, support it with Evidence, and then provide an Explanation. While the speaker acknowledges that this structure is useful, they argue that it can be limiting for more advanced writing. They suggest a more sophisticated approach that still uses PEE elements but integrates them more fluidly.

💡Context

Context refers to the background information or circumstances surrounding a text, which can influence its meaning. In essay writing, especially in literature, understanding the historical, social, or cultural context is crucial. The speaker highlights using context, such as references to the 1600s in Shakespeare, to enrich the analysis and provide depth to the interpretation of quotes.

💡Synonyms

Synonyms are words that have the same or similar meanings. The speaker advises building a 'word army' by having a variety of synonyms for commonly used words, such as 'suggests' or 'shows.' Using synonyms helps prevent repetition in essays and adds variety and sophistication to the writing, making the arguments more engaging and well-rounded.

💡Alternative Interpretation

Alternative interpretation involves considering different perspectives or readings of a text. In the video, the speaker encourages using alternative interpretations, such as Marxist or feminist readings, to show that the writer is open to multiple viewpoints. This enriches the essay and demonstrates critical thinking, which is often rewarded in higher-level exams.

💡Micro and Macro Analysis

Micro analysis focuses on small, specific elements within a text, such as word choice or literary devices, while macro analysis looks at the larger themes or overall message. The speaker explains that successful essay writing involves combining both types of analysis, zooming in on details like sound and then zooming out to consider how those details fit into the broader context of the work.

💡Author Awareness

Author awareness means acknowledging that the characters and events in a text are crafted by the author, rather than treating them as real. The speaker advises frequently mentioning the author's name, such as Shakespeare, to show that the writer understands the author's role in constructing the narrative. This awareness enhances the sophistication of the essay.

💡Structure

Structure refers to the organization of an essay, including how the introduction, body, and conclusion are arranged. The speaker discusses various structural elements, like having a concise introduction and using paragraphs that each focus on a specific point. They also talk about structuring comparison essays in a 'diamond' format, which alternates between texts while maintaining a central focus.

Highlights

Familiarize yourself with the assessment objectives (AOs) and marking schemes to understand what's expected for your essay.

Plan your essay in 5-10 minutes by jotting down key points, themes, or quotes that are relevant to the question.

The key to writing a successful essay is relevance – constantly reword and relate back to the essay question.

Use the author’s name frequently throughout your essay to show an understanding that the work is a deliberate construct.

Build an 'army of words' by using synonyms to avoid repetition and improve vocabulary variety in your analysis.

Keep introductions brief – just 2-3 sentences to introduce context, but avoid picking a definitive side too early in the essay.

While the PE (Point-Evidence-Explanation) structure works, developing your own advanced structure can be more effective for higher grades.

Embed quotes directly into your sentences and analyze them deeply with multiple layers such as sound, context, and imagery.

Analyze quotes at both the micro level (specific words or sounds) and the macro level (broader themes and context).

For comparison essays, use a 'diamond structure' by alternating between both texts while comparing and contrasting them.

In poetry or plays, refer to structural elements such as meter, iambic pentameter, or form, and how they relate to the themes of the text.

Sophisticated writing is essential – practicing vocabulary and sentence structure will improve the overall flow of your essay.

Include alternative interpretations such as Marxist, feminist, or modern readings to show a breadth of perspective in your analysis.

Avoid first-person writing – instead, use third-person phrasing like 'one may argue' to sound more formal and sophisticated.

Practice writing under timed conditions to improve speed without sacrificing the quality of your analysis.

Transcripts

hey guys so today's video is on the

highly requested how to write a good

decent essay my doctor says I'm looking

down looking at her now I'm not trying

to make myself come across some like

amazing always like a star level essay

kind of writer I definitely think that

writing essays does come more naturally

to me than perhaps a lot of other people

and I think I spot things like language

devices and stuff have more easily than

other people and yet with me I find it's

very much depends on the question and

how I do it depends on the question to

extract or whatever I'm doing at the

poem chosen and that's kinda annoying

thing that English is I never feel

prepared enough because it is such a in

the moment kind of thing regardless

today I'm going to tell you all about

how you can write a good essay okay so

the fire sort of random tip which is

some obvious is make sure you are

familiar with the a/o

or the mark scheme it will not go looks

an awful just specification now okay

because a lot of what I'm going to be

saying either links to the new GCSE for

AQA which are kind of looks up and my

English a level which is also a 2a so

adding English literature and the whole

is pretty much similar so just make sure

you know what you need like do you need

to talk about context do you need to

talk about typicality like are they

going to march on that and it's not you

don't need to include that okay so the

first big thing to writing an essay in

planning and timing sucks in an exam

situation because you have no time I get

that you actually have like five minutes

- ten minutes absolute maximum to write

a plan maybe you need to plan okay if

you get given extracts like in your own

Shakespeare paper or something whether

it's you read through you are

highlighting or underlining any quote

see if I rather than to your questions

or anything that sticks out to you could

use to get in your plan and some people

do mind maps

man but I know I mind why not take too

long what I actually do is or unlined

sir I'll write a few like scrappy words

of like students that I've noticed or

things that are relevant to the question

like potential points and I'll just let

you talk more down on the question paper

and then I'll sit back once I've like

gone through like thoughts stuff and I'm

like right what's actually decent out

whatever it endures now and anything is

I will quickly number in order of like

when I'm going to talk about it and that

is my plan right so the biggest secret

to doing well I'm writing a good essay

in English literature is relevant you

need to be relevant to that question

that is that you can be the best

everything writer ever but if you are

not answering the question but then an

explicitly given you you will get like

put down into a rubbish band you want to

be in the top band okay so I know so

when you've got good points today it is

so easy to get carried away with the

amazing points and does not stay on the

question anymore so the way that you are

going to stay relevant yes if I will use

to reword that question into your answer

so many times you're going to start your

paragraph with that black question

reworded you can end your paragraph with

the question reworded throughout the

paragraph so see if I know how they

present unfaithfulness in this extract

then you would be like oh this quote

hablar show unfaithfulness the author

presents unfaithfulness and then an

editor through the use a bit quo or this

this device that all the verses displays

unfaithfulness as the desert literally

just keeps saying the key word and think

of some synonyms for the word and like

the key word of the question and the one

time you say it you're always guaranteed

to stay relevant

okay next hit author's names Dinah

probably know you're gonna choose a

surname not like the first thing for

example Shakespeare if I was writing my

son immersing I would be wanting to use

the name Shakespeare at least three

times in a paragraph like at least so

Shakespeare conveys this smooth red

cheeks it employs the metaphors to the

test the theme of the

it presented by Shakespeare and it

literally to keep seeing the writers

name demonstrates that you realize that

this entire piece of work in the

construct of the author the characters

aren't real people they are characters

that have been written by an author

okay next tip have an army of words

ready the synonyms psyche suggest

because you don't want to keep saying

the word suggest and apply new things a

few times but you need like loads of

different ones so invokes highlights

exercises just phase shows signifies

connotes demonstrates and healthy

anymore but they're allowed to switch it

up a bit in your essay don't pee

yourself okay and now small structural

point introduction you should not be

spending those funny introduction nor

should you really need to plan it your

introduction should be so short if you

are going to have one three good

sentences and especially ailable your

introduction is just the perfect way to

tick off more of the AOS on a marking so

as long as you stay relevant it's a good

way to bring in some context also bring

in typicality or something about the

author or just something that is

relevant to the question but not shy

about you what you're going to be saying

the whole time in your essay equally

don't limit yourself in your

introduction by immediately picking

aside so if it's an explorative question

don't instantly be like oh yeah I agree

and there's nothing else that you can

ever say so definitely lean towards

aside in your argument so you deliver

yourself by only choosing one side leave

it open for debate on to more structure

PE I know that this is the go-to

structure in school like yeah point

evidence explanation blah blah blah and

while I understand that the structure of

it is good and it does work for a lot of

people I personally have never really

liked it ever I think I just sort of

develop my own way of writing which I

get looking

does encompass the PE structure but it's

more advanced I feel like PE is so

limiting and in the especially you're

aiming for higher higher grades I think

you need to break away from PE and get

more like bandit more okay so from your

plan third paragraph isolate a quote

that you are going to you find a way

that you are going to embed the quote

into the sentence so don't just start a

sentence with your quote and then go on

to explain it a different sentence find

a way to incorporate it okay so there

are different levels of analysis that

you're going to do this quote and the

first one is when you're putting in the

quote fun thing you're going to do is

simply put it in it's very broad

overarching things like oh this is a

metaphor and it shows something in

relation to the questions three broad so

writing so I can do an example right

let's analyze a quote from a solo so

Shakespeare writes in Iago's dialogue in

Venice they do let God see the pranks

they dare not show their husband so my

first point would be like oh yeah

broadly their quote demonstrates

unfaithfulness or whatever the question

is just more broadly

okay next so I'm going to go slightly

more depth I'm going to zoom in on the

word Venice and I'm going to say okay

this is an illusion illusion is another

voice this is an allusion to the context

which Eila we have to get in the context

of the 1600s venetian women have a

reputation to have war lack sexual

restrictions and therefore Iago is

playing timid reputation and therefore

making Desdemona seem unfaithful through

the Venetian reputation okay so next

still have been quote I would look at

the quote again think right what can I

say

it's a cool imagery in the use of God

then again I could talk a little bit

about context I could say the preference

of religion is at the time I can talk

about the fact that a fellow is a

Christian convert then again I will look

again and I'll make another word level

analysis point so the aspera voiceless

glottal fricative

h sounds create the soft whisper effect

when spoken on stage

and it is a play therefore it creates

the tone of suspicions and highlights

beyond evilness through this tone of

secrecy so with that I've got one animal

Arthas in which is great I'm analyzing

sound and also another huge point is I

have made reference to the form so it's

a play you've got your awareness that

you know it's going to be performed on

stage and the implications that I'm

going to have on sheep its joys of

writing and it is the poem you're going

to think okay maybe it's a sonnet and a

sauna is written to love therefore why

is that relevant to the presentation of

love maybe it's something more an idea

icepick loss if it's a sonnet form and

so on and so on

she's equally and to show awareness of

the form you need to be very careful

thing either reader or audience because

obviously it is a place you've got to

write about the effect on the audience

whereas if it's a poem or a prose novel

or something then it's going to be the

reader so as you can see from that you

literally just write so much on one

quote and you can back it up with

another little quote or something but

while trying to have a home is that you

need to write big paragraph on little

evidence if you get me so literally

analyze the hell out of that quote and

score me call it micro and macro so you

have your micro analysis which is like

sound zoom in 1:11 Eliza's what is this

show one of these sound shoulders one

show then you have a macro analysis and

you take a step back and you think how

does this little quote relate to the

context and this is the cavity and the

text and the hole so you're addressing

not only the little thing but the big

things in relation to the question okay

so this tip is a bit more specific to

comparison essays so if you the

structure each paragraph must start and

end with a comparative point between the

things that you are comparing so have a

point in mind like male dominance it

presented in both this novel and this

novel but does a lot in this novel it is

shown as this and then write a whole

paragraph on how it showed in that novel

next paragraph relate it to the other

novel so I really like to think of the

structure as a diamond here we go I

don't know if you can see this okay so

so at this point is a point you're

referencing with the text together yeah

so they're both another cause is this

then you're going to branch out into one

novel you need to power up on that novel

come back quickly to the point then go

to this novel then write a paragraph

about this novel then the next point

you're going to bring the two together

again and then go out again with your

comparison and in and out until the

conclusion oh okay next hit

don't forget about structure structure

the great things get points on the

mountain skiing off and I find it really

easy to talk about then you've got a

poem talk about meter in genres and

scissor ER and all these great things

that will have an impact on the text and

questions and if it's a play like a

Shakespeare play talk about iron big

pentameter to evolve lenva

free verse or all those other things to

about whether it's written in prose and

the implications of that like it's more

friendly like the characters get on

better and they're more comfortable boot

or can program the night and at

pentameter so on

and at the end of the day another tip is

you need to be good at just the way you

write you can have great points but if

you write them sloppily

then you're going to do badly that is

just unfortunately the way it works

so the sophistication of the way you

write comes a lot of practice and a lot

with your vocabulary in general so I

greatly recommend that you use methods

which are actually not timed and instead

of your main focus in working those

practices is the way that you write so

every now and then maybe look up a

synonym like a better more eloquent

synonym for word that you will use just

make this fa so well written in the way

you're writing so that way you'll

eventually need to do it in time

conditions you've got a better

understanding of how you need to write

there a next tip include some

alternative interpretation like at a

level we do like a Marxist response of

feminists response a modern reader as a

priest

a contemporary reader all those sorts of

things and how people would view it

differently or argue the question

opposite way equally when you're arguing

your points say it may argue it could

argue that you're not limiting your

viewpoint to only one way so you're

appreciating that it could be the

opposite and it's just your opinion

talking about your opinion I personally

don't recommend using first-person like

I think that I agree that and I

personally stick to third-person because

you come across as more knowledgeable

and sophisticated if you're saying

things like one may argue that gives a

dirt rather than I agree that and

finally you conclude your essay having

looked at all your other alternative

interpretation blah blah blah and you

come to a bit of a overall summary

conclusions that don't repeat the point

you said just come to a like a new short

conclusion Jesus I know that sounds like

so much like that is the issue available

that is so much today and so little time

and time is the biggest struggle in

English I mean I can write an essay yes

I can write a great essay sure the can

we do it in 45 minutes

not always and that's my practices key

and again awareness of what you used to

do to write a good essay so hopefully

this helps you and if it didn't I'm

sorry please do like this video if you

enjoyed it and if you'd like to see some

more similar ones like this I feel like

a literally poured all of like my tips

into this like literally all of my tips

like you know how I write up days now so

please like it if you enjoyed it please

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