Literary Essay Notes (Grade 11)
1. Preparation & Approach
• Read the question carefully — identify keywords and synonyms.
• Isolate key terms — link them to themes, characters, or events.
• Plan before writing — decide the order of points and ensure each links back to the
topic.
• Stick to your stance — don’t change your argument halfway through.
• Link evidence to stance — every quotation must support your position.
• Structured planning shows — markers reward cohesion and logical flow.
2. Introduction
• Must state your stance clearly.
• Avoid repeating the question; instead, show how you are arguing your position.
• Include specific details of the topic.
• Introduce relevant characters carefully.
• Always underline titles (handwritten) or italicise (typed).
3. Body Paragraphs
• Develop each key point from the introduction in separate paragraphs.
• Use short, memorable quotations for each major character.
• Embed quotations naturally into sentences (avoid clunky quotation marks).
• Ensure each paragraph flows into the next using transition words:
In addition, furthermore, in juxtaposition
• Avoid: One-sentence paragraph, bullet points, poor style or random quotations.
4. Conclusion
• Do not end with rhetorical questions or new concepts.
1. Preparation & Approach
• Read the question carefully — identify keywords and synonyms.
• Isolate key terms — link them to themes, characters, or events.
• Plan before writing — decide the order of points and ensure each links back to the
topic.
• Stick to your stance — don’t change your argument halfway through.
• Link evidence to stance — every quotation must support your position.
• Structured planning shows — markers reward cohesion and logical flow.
2. Introduction
• Must state your stance clearly.
• Avoid repeating the question; instead, show how you are arguing your position.
• Include specific details of the topic.
• Introduce relevant characters carefully.
• Always underline titles (handwritten) or italicise (typed).
3. Body Paragraphs
• Develop each key point from the introduction in separate paragraphs.
• Use short, memorable quotations for each major character.
• Embed quotations naturally into sentences (avoid clunky quotation marks).
• Ensure each paragraph flows into the next using transition words:
In addition, furthermore, in juxtaposition
• Avoid: One-sentence paragraph, bullet points, poor style or random quotations.
4. Conclusion
• Do not end with rhetorical questions or new concepts.
