1. Essay writing skills

2. To get B-A* in an essay you are required to demonstrate ‘sophistication’ in your writing and develop ‘impressive’ interpretations of the text you are studying. These are highly subjective terms which means there is not only one way to show this – it’s up to you to impress the examiner with your verbal flair. However there are a few things you could do to begin with...

3. Avoid simplistic and overused phrases 1.I know this because... 2.In this essay I am going to... 3.This means/ this shows... 4.I think... 1.This is evident from/ as suggested by... 2.The following essay will explore/ examine... 3.This/ which...highlights/ suggests/ implies/ reveals/ brings to mind/ emphasises/ promotes the view that... 4.(Name of author) could be trying to.../ arguably/ interestingly/ undeniably/ most importantly/ Indeed/ some may argue/ it could be suggested that... NOTE: formal essays almost always use the third person voice, so avoid 1 st person as far as possible!

4. Keep it formal/ avoid informal or colloquial (conversational) language 1.Can’t/ don’t/isn’t 2. He goes 3.Cops/ really/ well/ yeah/ cool 1.Cannot/ do not/ is not 2. He says 3.Police/ very/ actually/ yes/ excellent

5. Engage with the writer’s ideas To show you are engaging with the writer’s ideas you could uses phrases like: Steinbeck wants to reader to feel... Shakespeare uses the technique of... to emphasise... Orwell was inspired by... Alternatively, the author may have wanted to express...

6. Try experimenting using active and passive sentences Active (the subject is doing it) 1.The reader can sympathise with George. 2.Lennie always imitates George’s actions. 3.Curley attacks Lennie in the barn. 4.These words suggest deep hatred... Practise: Curley’s wife ________ her own husband. Passive (it is done to the subject) 1.George can be sympathised with... 2.George’s actions are imitated by Lennie. 3.Lennie is attacked by Curley in the barn. 4.Deep hatred is suggested by the words... Practise:

7. Experiment with adjectives and abstract nouns 1.The quote reveals that Curley’s wife is desperate. 2.George is exhausted by Lennie’s immature behaviour. 3.Romeo is depressed at the beginning of the play. Practise: Tybalt’s words emphasise how much he _________ Romeo Montague. 1.The quote reveals Curley’s wife’s desperation. 2.Lennie’s immaturity is exhausting for George. 3.Romeo’s depression is evident at the beginning of the play. Practise:

8. Use complex vocabulary and sentences Simple Lennie has a dream to live on a ranch with George and lots of rabbits. Practise: Curley’s wife also has a dream to be in the pictures and wear nice clothes. Complex Steinbeck expresses the child-like idealism of Lennie’s dream to live undisturbed with his friend George and own multi coloured rabbits.

9. Be concise/ don’t waffle Waffle (unnecessary words) When Romeo first sees Juliet his feelings for Juliet are revealed because he is completed astounded by how beautiful she looks to him. He says to himself “did my heart love till now foreswear its sight/ for I ne-er saw true beauty till this night”. This quotation expresses that he cannot believe his eyes, he cannot comprehend his strong feelings at this point which is clear to the reader because of the language and words like “true-beauty”. Rosaline was almost like nothing compared to Juliet. Romeo at this point is reflecting on his feelings. I know this because of the questions he asks and the way he uses words like “I” and “my”. Concise Romeo’s powerful feelings for Juliet are expressed when he first sees her: “did my heart love till now foreswear its sight/ for I ne-er saw true beauty till this night”. The personal pronouns “I/my” as well as the question express his self reflection as he considers his intense feelings for the first time. In addition, Shakespeare’s use of “true-beauty” also allows us to compare Romeo’s feelings for Juliet with Rosaline, who was clearly an inferior attraction.

10. Review : When writing and essay... DosDon’ts In your exercise book complete this table reflecting on what you have learnt about formal essay writing

11. Review : When writing and essay... DosDon’ts Engage with the writer’s ideas (use their name and express their intentions) Don’t talk about the characters as if they are real Experiment with active and passive sentences Don’t repeat overused phrases Experiment with adjectives and abstract nouns Don’t use simple vocabulary Use formal languageDon’t use contractions, informal phrases or colloquial language Use complex sentencesDon’t always use simple sentences Be conciseDon’t waffle