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Critical Essay National 5/Higher
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Part A: Drama- If you have studied a play for CE i
Part A: Drama- If you have studied a play for CE i.e ‘Blood Brothers’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘Whose life is it anyway’ etc. Part B: Prose fiction- If you have studied a novel or short story (fiction) for CE i.e ‘The Great Gatsby’, ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ , ‘Miss Brill’ etc. Part C: Prose non-fiction- If you have studied a novel or short story (non-fiction) for CE i.e ‘Letter to Daniel’, ‘A Hanging’ etc. Part D: Poetry- If you have studied a poem(s) for CE i.e ‘Mid-term break’, ‘Brooklyn Cop’, ‘Shooting Stars’ Part E: Film and Television drama- If you have studied a media text for CE i.e ‘Jurassic World’, ‘The Truman show’, ‘Shawshank Redemption’ etc. Part F- Language- Unlikely you will have been taught to write in this section. The exam paper
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Choosing the question At National 5 there are 2 questions in each part. At Higher there are 3 questions in each part. You only have to choose ONE question to write a CE on. Not all of the questions will be suitable for the texts you have studied. Don’t attempt to bend a question, or write everything you know about the text. You must stay on task and answer all parts of the question to achieve a good grade.
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The questions are usually made up of two sentences.
The first sentence lets you know whether your text is suitable. The second sentence is the one you answer.
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How do you know your text is suitable?
Your teacher will have pointed out particular features of the text: character flaws, themes, social issues, turning points, key scenes etc. You may have even noticed some yourself from your own studying! Although the questions are fairly generalised- as there is no set text list for CE, and teachers choose the texts – some are more suited to particular texts. For instance, you are always pretty safe studying Shakespeare, but poetry can be hit or miss!
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It’s always good to plan
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Write the number of the question you are answering in the margin.
What next? Write the number of the question you are answering in the margin. If you miss this step you may lose marks, as the marker will not know what task you are attempting.
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Introduction Stick to TAPES for guidance: T Title/Text A Author
P Plot summary (brief) E Essay task Signpost your intentions Don’t waste time on the introduction – the main body of the essay is more important.
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Introduction example: a poem that deals with suffering or loss
“Shooting Stars” by the acclaimed poet Carol Ann Duffy is a harrowing account, of a Jewish woman’s treatment at the hand of the Nazis. Duffy’s use of the brave female persona, and her emotive language, hit a chord with the reader, allowing us to witness her suffering. Seamus Heaney’s distressing poem “Mid-term break” tells the story of his young brother’s funeral. Heaney uses imagery throughout to help the reader understand, the great loss this death had on his family, and his later life.
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Structure of main body PEER PEE SQA SQAR PCQE
You may have been taught any of these acronyms during your time in the department. It doesn’t matter what you use as long as: you are on task, give quotes and analyse them.
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Context - never assume your reader understands more than they do.
No quotation – however well chosen – will be effective unless you give a brief context. Does not need to be long – leads reader into the evidence to make sense of your point. Indicate briefly who said it Why they said it Under what circumstances it was said
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Structure Point: the main idea you are trying to get across. Context: relevant background/the moment in the text that is relevant to your quotation. Evidence: example lifted from the text – it must back up your point. Explanation – Analysis: look at techniques used and how the example demonstrates your point. What it reveals about the character, situation etc. Evaluation: how successful the writer had been using particular techniques, in achieving the purpose, in engaging you. Relate to task
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Example: short story with a fascinating character
POINT: The reader is shocked and horrified by the twist ending to the story. CONTEXT: O’Flaherty has chosen to reinforce his message of the devastation of civil war when brother is fighting brother: QUOTE: “Then the sniper turned over the dead body and looked into his brother's face.” EXPLANATION: The reader is horrified to discover that his enemy all along had been the Sniper’s brother. Highlighting the devastation that civil war can have on families, when men are forced to choose sides. REFER BACK TO QUESTION: This stresses the unrelenting nature of the Sniper’s cause, in the fact that he is prepared to kill kin for his beliefs.
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Example: poem that persona is a complex character
The first line of the poem is very dramatic and gives us our first look into Havisham’s mind. “Beloved Sweetheart Bastard” This oxymoron conveys two conflicting emotions within Havisham. “Beloved” and “Sweetheart” are terms of endearment used for those we love whereas “Bastard” is a harsh insult. This gives us a view of Havisham’s divided personality. Part of her still loves the man who left her whereas the other hates him with a passion. This is the first aspect of Havisham’s personality revealed, she has not decided on her emotions towards this man and is caught between two extremes.
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Example: a play deals with theme of love
From the moment Romeo lays eyes on Juliet in Act 1 Sc 5 he falls immediately in love with her. He is struck by her beauty, exclaiming: “O she doth teach the torches to burn bright!” Shakespeare’s effective use of hyperbole demonstrates just how awed Romeo is by Juliet’s beauty. He thinks her beauty burns so bright that she outshines every flame in the party. This not only highlights how he feels an immediate deep connection with her, but also how it is very clear that he had not loved truly before. It illustrates how when in love, the only thing you can focus on is that person and how perfect and wonderful they appear.
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Example: a novel where character is not in harmony with society.
Early in to the novel the reader discovers that Holden is grieving for his dead brother Allie. The death of his younger brother explains most of Holden’s unusual behaviour, and his strong relationship with his younger sister Phoebe. Holden wishes to remain a ‘Peter Pan’ style character, and remain a child while also attempting to grow up and fit in: “Then, all of a sudden, you’d never guess what I saw on the wall. Another ‘Fuck you.’ It was written with a red crayon or something, right under the glass part of the wall, under the stones” This quotation reveals that Holden is disgusted that someone has vandalized The Natural History Museum with profanity, as children might see it. He sees the museum as a place that does not change, and Salinger has used it to symbolize the lack of change that Holden craves. He wishes to remain young and protect his young sister from the world, as he is struggling to cope with the expectations of growing up. This theme is also discussed at Phoebe’s school where similar graffiti is found, and he is appalled that someone would graffiti bad language at a school. However, it can be said that Holden is a hypocrite as he is constantly using bad language in attempt to appear grown up, when in fact it just further displays his lack of maturity, and his alienation from society.
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Language of analysis exemplifies illuminates encapsulates
There is more to analysis that THIS SHOWS… implies defines displays conveys demonstrates proves suggests points out points to reveals explains authenticates validates confirms exemplifies illuminates encapsulates clarifies connotes portrays illustrates emphasises depicts alludes to highlights presents tells us illustrates indicates establishes exhibits outlines defines from this we learn...
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Other ways to be evaluative
effective engaging interesting compelling convincing direct poignant reminiscent of emotive moving impressive powerful skilful expert expertly artful accomplished interesting evocative resonates has a particular resonance with... confronting challenges sophisticated an intelligent use of... this elicits an emotional response from the audience... an interesting example of... thought provoking confronts the reader...
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Maintain the flow Discussion of first point completed – lead the reader smoothly onto next point Successful flow – make a brief reference in 1st sentence of new paragraph to the subject of previous paragraph. Don’t jump around the text, but try to write about it in chronological order.
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Title Author Sum up your points There should be no quotes or new points in your conclusion.
