Yr 9 How to Study Literature and How to Write an Essay Do what Mrs Mac tells you to do … and you’ll learn the trick to writing a good essay. It’ll be as easy as pulling a rabbit out of a hat.

My love is like a red, red rose … What does text mean? It is the general name we use for the different types of literature that you read and study. My love is like a red, red rose … Name the kinds of literature which are represented by each of the pictures alongside. Novel Poetry Play Film Which one is missing? Short Story

When we study literature, we look at FOUR main features of the text. What do you think they are? Plot Setting Character Theme

Plot This is the most obvious thing – so what is it? It is the ‘events’ that occur and the order in which they happen. When you write an essay, please DO NOT re-tell the plot.

Setting Is setting always important? No, not always. But most of the time it is helpful to examine where the author chose to set the text.

Questions to ask about Setting Where is the text set? (e.g rural, city, culture, country) What is the cultural setting? (e.g religion, race, gender, class) When is the text set? (e.g future, present, past) Which quotes reveal time and place? Is there more than one setting? If yes, are they contrasted? Does the setting (e.g extreme isolation) influence the characters’ actions in any way? Does it create mood?

When we study literature, we look at FOUR main features of the text. What have we just looked at? What’s the next feature? Plot Setting Character Theme Character Setting

Character Why are characters important to study in literature? It is through them that we learn things about life. What is the term used in literature to refer to the central character (hero)? Protagonist Who opposes the protagonist? Antagonist

Choose a main character in your text and ask these questions. What do they look like? (gender, hair colour, clothing, dress, distinguishing features) What is their personality like? ( e.g cheerful, envious, lonely, sad, resourceful, scared) How do they speak? (How they say things can be a key to who they are, for example colloquial language = easygoing; aggressive language = difficult, nasty) How do they behave? (people are judged by their actions.) What problems do they encounter? (with people, themselves and the environment) How do they deal with conflict/problems? (Do they cope well? Why/why not?)

We see the of the text through a character’s and we share or her experiences. We understand what happens, how are feeling, what things look, , & feel like through what the or tells us about characters. Complete this information about character by replacing the picture with a word.

Choose a main character in your text and ask these questions. How do they interact and act towards other characters? (Who do they feel comfortable with? If they are aggressive, why?) Do they change in any way? (Appearance, actions, attitudes) Why? (What happened to bring about the change? An event? Action from someone else?) How does this character help develop the themes of the text? How is this character a role model for us? (What can we learn from them/ their action and attitudes.)

When we study literature, we look at FOUR main features of the text. What have we just looked at? What’s the next feature? Plot Setting Character Theme Theme Character

Theme Every work of literature is always more than just a story. It has an underlying message as well, where the author shares an idea or opinion. (Sometimes there are several themes.)

A good way to identify a theme … Ask: what does the protagonist learn in the course of the story?

A good way to identify a theme …

Turn to a partner & identify a theme … FROM Answer: what does the protagonist learn in the course of the story?

Sometimes a theme can be good advice For example: take care of those who are too young or vulnerable to take care of themselves.

Sometimes a theme can be good advice What could this advice be? Admit your mistakes. Apologise sincerely.

Sometimes a theme can be a warning For example: we need to care for animals, especially endangered ones, otherwise the species could die out.

Sometimes a theme can be a warning What warning about lightning could we need to remember? Some forces of nature, like lightning, are powerful and dangerous, so take shelter indoors.

Sometimes a theme can be a prophecy For example: technology will one day control humans. http://www.surmall.com/blog/20-awesomest-cctv-gifs-caught-cctv-cameras-2/1827/

Sometimes a theme can be a prophecy What could this prophecy be? There is other life in the universe.

Sometimes a theme shows how human behaviour affects others For example: sibling rivalry undermines families

Sometimes a theme shows how human behaviour affects others How could our behaviour or attitude about race have an effect on others? We could have racial stereotypes.

Ask these questions to explore theme What is this text saying to me? (note, subject is different to message) What do I see as the strengths of this text? What have I learnt from this text?

How to write a literature essay EASY AS …1 … 2… 3

What is a literature essay What is a literature essay? It is where you write about a particular aspect of a text to show your knowledge and understanding of this aspect and why it is important or interesting. Q: What’s the first step? A: Choosing your question.

Choosing your question It’s the ideas(themes) in the film Stand by Me that stand out for me. Facing challenges bravely is one idea I noticed in the film because it’s brave of the boys to look for the dead body, but each of them also has a personal challenge to cope with bravely . Choosing your question So I’ll choose the essay question on themes and use ‘Coping with challenges bravely’ as my theme..

Choosing your question It’s the characters in the film Bend it Like Beckham that stand out for me. The conflict in the film between Jess and her family occurs because she’s passionate about football, but they want her to be a traditional Indian girl. Choosing your question So I’ll choose the essay question on character and look at the way that culture clash make Jess interesting.

Questions 1. Describe an important scene in your text Questions 1. Describe an important scene in your text. Explain, in detail, why it was important. 2. Describe an interesting theme or main idea that you learnt about in one of the texts you have studied in class. Explain why you think this idea is important to you as a Year 9 student. 3. Describe a character in a text you have studied this year. Explain why you thought the character was interesting. How do we begin? All essays start with an introduction and a tako …

Paragraph 1 - Introduction: T.A.K.O. T.A.K.O. – Use this acronym to remember to include the necessary information in the introduction: Title (MUST be underlined), Author/Director, Key words from question, Outline of essay’s points TAKO

Example of introduction Let’s highlight the TAKO information In the film Stand by Me, directed by Rob Reiner, an interesting theme is how brave Chris, Gordy and Teddy are, in the way that they confront challenges. The boys leave the safety of their homes in Castle Rock, to find the dead body of Ray Brower. Their reaction to death, the obstacles they face on their journey, and the challenges revealed about their lives, shows that they are truly courageous. Although this film was set in the 60’s, it still delivers a message to today’s teenager, as it shows us how to be valiant and heroic when we’re tested.

Example of introduction Let’s highlight the TAKO information In the film Bend it like Beckham, directed by Gurinder Chadha, an interesting character is Jess Bhamra. Jess’ family expect her to be a traditional Indian girl but as a modern girl in the UK, her expectations of life are different. She wants to play football, but this clashes with her culture, so through props, costume, camerawork and dialogue, the film shows how Jess creates her own identity where she blends the old and new cultures together.

Body Paragraphs The body of the essay is divided into p…………... There should be at least ……... body paragraphs. With an Introduction and a Conclusion paragraph, and the three body paragraphs, the essay should contain a total of at least ……. paragraphs. My Essay Introduction Body Para (1) Body Para (2) Body Para (3) 5. Conclusion

How to structure each paragraph S tatement/ Topic Sentence – Tell the audience what topic or idea the paragraph will be about. This is a simple sentence that states the idea. E xplanation – Explain to the reader of the essay exactly what is meant in the statement. E xample – support the explanation with an example, e.g quote, detail from the text

Body Paragraph structure – the possibilities … SEE or SEXY

SEE or S.E.X.Y? What the difference? There’s no real difference. SEXY is a mnemonic to remember each part of a body paragraph for a literature essay. It has one extra part to it, so it is more complex than SEE. S: the Statement at the start of the paragraph that says what point this paragraph is making or focusing on. E: the Explanation that explains how this statement is relevant to the text or the question. X: the eXamples from the text that support your statement and develop your point. Y: explain whY this point is relevant to the question.

Example of a Body Paragraph Chris Chambers, the leader of the group of boys, was brave. The director uses an over-the-shoulder shot of an oncoming train moving towards Chris as he wrestles with Teddy, to show his courage in rescuing Teddy from death or injury. His dialogue when he stands up to Ace and his gang (when they try to take Ray Brower’s dead body) confirms Chris’ bravery. He tells Ace, “You’re going to have to kill me first!” These incidents show that Chris is not afraid to take risks to help his friends, and stand up for what he thinks is right. Chris comes from a family of criminals, but he chooses to behave differently which teaches year 9 viewers that they can make good choices, and confront challenges bravely, just like Chris did.

Example of a Body Paragraph Jess’ parents believe they have a responsibility to teach her to be a good Indian girl, who will later become a good wife. Through the use of dialogue and costume, the director shows the Bhamra’s expectations of Jess to dress, and behave, in a traditional way, which comes from their Indian culture and customs. A close up of Jess’ mum’s shocked face, is used as a reaction shot when she sees Jess playing football in the park in shorts. Jess’ modern costume signals that Jess is becoming independent, but this puts her into conflict with her mum who considers it unacceptable for her daughter to dress like this, and her dialogue reinforces this when she scolds Jess saying: “You shouldn’t be running around showing your bare legs.”

Film Essay – Do’s and Dont’s Do do Does Don’t do Don’ts

Do use a film technique in every paragraph Jess’ modern costume signals that Jess is becoming independent, but this puts her into conflict with her mum who considers it unacceptable for her daughter to dress like this, and her dialogue reinforces this when she scolds Jess saying: “You shouldn’t be running around showing your bare legs.”

Do use the correct film terminology It’s not just ‘she said’ it’s DIALOGUE. It’s not her clothes, it’s COSTUME. It’s not just a gun, it’s a PROP.

Literature Essay – Do’s and Dont’s Do do Does Don’t do Don’ts

Do answer the second part of the question This can be done in two ways – either in a separate paragraph or in each paragraph. Read the two paragraphs again. Which answers the second part of the question in the paragraph itself?

Don’t change the question An essay has to be a response to the question given. You may not cross out words, add words or re-write the question.

Don’t write in the past tense An essay response should use present tense verbs. What you are saying is true and stays true always, so that is why it is not written in the past tense. For example, if jumping over the skipping rope shows that the girl is athletic, then say: “She is athletic.” Don’t say “She was athletic.”

There’ll be a 3rd Body Para No matter what the question, always ask : “How can I apply what the text is saying, to myself?” Be sure to include a response to this question in the third or fourth body paragraph.

Conclusion Conclude the essay by writing about why you care about the topic (even if you don’t you have to pretend you do! ) DO NOT INTRODUCE ANY NEW INFORMATION INTO THE CONCLUSION. Use this sentence as a starter in your conclusion if you are stuck. “An examination of these …(name what your essay has examined) is important because ….(state why you think it is important).”

Now it’s your turn. Write an essay using the structure you have been given. First of all, though, we’ll practise by doing some essays together and using some essay templates.

Write your own essay. Use the TAKO introduction and body paragraph you were given, if you want help to get started. Describe an interesting theme or main idea that you learnt about in one of the texts you have studied in class. Explain why you think this idea is important to you as a Year 9 student. SBM 3. Describe a character in a text you have studied this year. Explain why you thought the character was interesting. BLB