CRITICAL ESSAY WRITING A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE Jaws

In the past, Film & TV Drama questions which would suit Jaws have asked about films which: Have lots of exciting action. (PLOT / KEY SEQUENCES) Have a character who has to deal with a strong emotion. (CHARACTER) Have an exciting opening sequence. (KEY SEQUENCE) Involve conflict. (PLOT) Are mainly about people living in a specific type of place. (SETTING) Have an opening sequence which creates a particular atmosphere. (KEY SEQUENCE) Deal with a crisis in the life of a family or town. (PLOT / THEME) Deal with an important relationship. (CHARACTERS)

There is no way of knowing what the questions will focus on in this year’s exam, so the only way to prepare is to revise ALL ASPECTS of the film:  Character  Use of Camera  Key Sequences  Editing  Sound / music  Plot  Setting

How to write your essay: Introduction  EXPLAINS WHAT TEXT YOU ARE USING AND WHY (use the wording of the first sentence of the essay task).  EXPLAINS EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO IN YOUR ESSAY (use the second sentence of the essay task). Main Body  ADDRESS KEY TASKS OF ESSAY  POINT – make a point  EVIDENCE – support it with evidence (a quote or example from the film)  COMMENT (explain how this point and the evidence you have used back up the main point you are trying to make throughout the essay) Conclusion  REFER BACK TO THE TASK AND GIVE A PERSONAL RESPONSE TO IT – USING FIRST PERSON & SUPPORTING OPINIONS WITH EVIDENCE FROM THE TEXT.

For example: Choose a film which deals with a crisis in the life of a family, or a town, or a country, or a planet. Describe the crisis and show how the film director or the programme makers have used the techniques of film or television to make it exciting and dramatic. 1) The first thing to do is to check that this is a suitable task to attempt using Jaws, by looking at the first sentence. 2) Next, identify exactly what you are being asked to do (you will usually be asked to do more than one thing).

Identifying what you are being asked to do: Choose a film which deals with a crisis in the life of a family, or a town, or a country, or a planet. Describe the crisis and show how the film director or the programme makers have used the techniques of film or television to make it exciting and dramatic. KEY TASKS: 1) Describe the crisis in the film. 2) Show how techniques are used to make the crisis exciting and dramatic.

1) Describe the crisis in the film:  Amity Island is a popular tourist resort. Just before the busiest day of the year (4 th July) a young woman is killed in a shark attack.  The mayor refuses to acknowledge the attack – he wants to keep the beach open.  There are two more attacks.  Chief Brody, Quint and Hooper have a race against time to kill the shark before it claims another victim...

2) Show how techniques are used to make the crisis exciting and dramatic:  POINTS TO MAKE:  Camera work makes the crisis exciting and dramatic.  Editing makes the crisis exciting and dramatic.  Sound / music makes the crisis exciting and dramatic.  The development of characters also makes the crisis exciting and dramatic.  Finally, the setting makes the crisis dramatic and exciting.  NOW YOU NEED TO FIND EVIDENCE FOR EACH OF THESE POINTS AND THEN GO ON TO MAKE A COMMMENT FOR EACH ONE WHICH EXPLAINS CLEARLY HOW IT MAKES THE CRISIS MORE EXCITING AND DRAMATIC.

Concluding the essay:  Refer back to the essay task.  Give your personal response (use first person and share your own opinions / ideas).  Sum up the main points made in the essay. For example: In this essay I have explained that the characters in Jaws face a crisis. Their tourist industry, but more importantly their lives, are at risk because of a killer shark. I have also explained how the director’s use of camera work, sound, editing, characters and setting all add to the drama and excitement of the crisis. I think these techniques were very successful – they certainly had me on the edge of my seat at times!