The art of
WRITING AN ESSAY
Step One
Plan! Whether you are writing a coursework essay, or sitting your GCSE exam, it is essential that you spend some time planning your essay.
Step Two
Outline where your essay is going – it’s not a secret!
Don’t be tempted to retell the story or the poem – the examiner/ your teacher already knows it in depth. Tell the examiner where your essay is going, and what the main points you are going to make are.
Step Three
Each of your paragraphs should contain a major point, a quotation to support that point and some analysis of the quotation (PEE!).
The points should be building your argument. Of ‘what, where, how and why’ – it’s the how
and why that are important.
Step Four
Draw your ideas to a conclusion – which, if you planned your essay, should be what you outlined in your introduction. Briefly survey the ideas you have expressed in your essay.
Do not introduce new ideas into your
conclusion.
Step Five
This one always gets ignored, but it is so important!
Read though your essay, checking that your points make sense, that you have included quotes and that you have covered all the parts of the question.
Final Points
The examiner is looking for analysis. Particularly analysis of the way that language has been used. The examiner has no interest in you retelling what happens in the book or poem. There is no right or wrong – just well constructed arguments and poorly constructed ones.Your opinion is important.