Top 10 Tips for How to Write A*/8 & 9 English Literature Essay 2018 // GCSE & A level English Lit
Summary
TLDRIn 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
📚 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.
✍️ 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.
🔄 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.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Planning
💡Relevance
💡Mark Scheme
💡Point, Evidence, Explanation (PEE)
💡Context
💡Synonyms
💡Alternative Interpretation
💡Micro and Macro Analysis
💡Author Awareness
💡Structure
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
subscribe is been already subscribe I
post everything Wednesday follow me on
instagram jade bowler follow me on
twitter and jaded underscore.js thank
you so much for watching i think about
this i
English man - like his help you guys
Asia
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