OCR A-level Paper 2 – The Gothic
Contents:
Gothic Comparative Essay Mark Scheme – page 2
General Essay Plan – page 3
Carter and Banks Comparative Essay Theme Plans – page 5
A* Gothic Comparative Essay Example – page 13
1
, Below is an overview of the mark scheme and what the examiners will be looking for, for
each AO of the Ibsen and Rossetti Comparative Essay in Section 2 of Paper 1. In these notes,
I have created a general essay plan in which you can follow along with my thematic essay
plans which outline key comparative points between Ibsen and Rossetti in which you can
expand on, allowing you to hit AO4. You’ll notice that the structure of each paragraph in the
general essay plan is quite repetitive, but this allows the essay to have a structured feel for
the examiner, thus achieving AO1. To help achieve AO5, I have also provided a concise list of
critics that you can include for each theme in my essay plans. I have not provided revision
notes for AO3, as I believe that for this comparative study, it is best to research the authors
yourself to build an understanding of them in your own words .
Gothic Comparative Essay Mark Scheme:
AO1: Quality of writing AO3: context (50%) AO4: Connections and AO5: Interpretation and
(12.52%) Considered relevant Comparisons (25%) debate (12.5%)
Accurate SPAG- capitals historical and social Outlined the way the Used critics to back up
Title of individual context of the time texts (both Banks and argument- quoted
stories in inverted Considered context of Carter) can be read in them and called them
commas: ‘The Bloody reception response to the by name
Chamber’, ‘The Erl- Considered the question Referred to specific
King’ etc. context of production Made at least 3 reviews
Considered a range of Placed the text within explicit links between Considered critical
stories by Carter (at the Gothic canon- e.g. Banks and Carter perspectives in order
least 3) considered where it Considered similarities to set up debate and
Referred back to the comes in the and differences in interpretation
words of the question chronology of the terms of language or Considered what
Well structured essay Gothic and what affect gothic feature and questions the text
Literary terminology this has had on the purpose raises in response to
used production of it Compared and this theme/idea
Well-crafted and Considered Gothic contrasted specific Considered your own
developed concepts such as narrative techniques point of view and
introduction female Gothic, the opinion. Be tentative
Focused and concise sublime, sensibility, and offer options.
conclusion Romanticism, willing 2-sided debate
Relevant critical suspension of disbelief Evaluative structure to
perspectives used etc. the essay
accurately Made relevant and
Quotes helpful links to other
Gothic texts
General Essay Plan:
2
, For this essay plan, I have provided a basic paragraph structure that each of your paragraphs
should follow, PEA. Below that is a list of content that each of your paragraphs should
contain whilst following the PEA paragraph structure. This follows directly with the Carter
and Banks comparative essay plans that I have made for each comparative theme in Carter’s
The Bloody Chamber and Banks’ The Wasp Factory.
Introduction:
• Unpack the wording of the question
◦ Discuss briefly what the question means (show that you understand the key words
of the question)
‣ What do the specific words mean in relation to the texts - what is your
interpretation of the question.
• How well does this apply to the Gothic in general
• Place texts in terms of the Gothic canon - link back to question
• Place texts in terms of historical context - link back to question
• Consider how both texts are similar in relation to question - link to their themes
• Consider a key difference in the texts in relation to question
Main body paragraphs:
*make 2 points for the question, and 1 against -> OR (if not possible) 2 against the question,
and 1 for.
Paragraph 1:
• Point - start with a confident, comparative topic sentence (an answer for the question)
◦ "In both texts…"
• Evidence/Analysis - make argument on how one text conveys this (links to context / critics)
+ link back to key words of question
• Comparison point - say how the other text is similar
◦ "Similarly..."
• Evidence/Analysis - make argument on how other text conveys this (links context / critics)
• Link back to key words of question - how does the author use the Gothic to portray their
viewpoint
• (If possible) Counter-point - suggest how this text also differs from the previous point (how
does it challenge the previous idea and provide an alternative argument)
◦ “However…”
• Evidence/Analysis - make argument on how the text conveys this (links context / critics)
• Link back to key words of question - how does the author use the Gothic to portray their
viewpoint
• Conclusion - sum up main points made in the paragraph (draw out similarities and
differences)
◦ Develop reasons for differences between texts - link to authors' different aims and
agendas
◦ "Overall,..."
◦ "This difference is likely because..."
Paragraph 2:
3
Contents:
Gothic Comparative Essay Mark Scheme – page 2
General Essay Plan – page 3
Carter and Banks Comparative Essay Theme Plans – page 5
A* Gothic Comparative Essay Example – page 13
1
, Below is an overview of the mark scheme and what the examiners will be looking for, for
each AO of the Ibsen and Rossetti Comparative Essay in Section 2 of Paper 1. In these notes,
I have created a general essay plan in which you can follow along with my thematic essay
plans which outline key comparative points between Ibsen and Rossetti in which you can
expand on, allowing you to hit AO4. You’ll notice that the structure of each paragraph in the
general essay plan is quite repetitive, but this allows the essay to have a structured feel for
the examiner, thus achieving AO1. To help achieve AO5, I have also provided a concise list of
critics that you can include for each theme in my essay plans. I have not provided revision
notes for AO3, as I believe that for this comparative study, it is best to research the authors
yourself to build an understanding of them in your own words .
Gothic Comparative Essay Mark Scheme:
AO1: Quality of writing AO3: context (50%) AO4: Connections and AO5: Interpretation and
(12.52%) Considered relevant Comparisons (25%) debate (12.5%)
Accurate SPAG- capitals historical and social Outlined the way the Used critics to back up
Title of individual context of the time texts (both Banks and argument- quoted
stories in inverted Considered context of Carter) can be read in them and called them
commas: ‘The Bloody reception response to the by name
Chamber’, ‘The Erl- Considered the question Referred to specific
King’ etc. context of production Made at least 3 reviews
Considered a range of Placed the text within explicit links between Considered critical
stories by Carter (at the Gothic canon- e.g. Banks and Carter perspectives in order
least 3) considered where it Considered similarities to set up debate and
Referred back to the comes in the and differences in interpretation
words of the question chronology of the terms of language or Considered what
Well structured essay Gothic and what affect gothic feature and questions the text
Literary terminology this has had on the purpose raises in response to
used production of it Compared and this theme/idea
Well-crafted and Considered Gothic contrasted specific Considered your own
developed concepts such as narrative techniques point of view and
introduction female Gothic, the opinion. Be tentative
Focused and concise sublime, sensibility, and offer options.
conclusion Romanticism, willing 2-sided debate
Relevant critical suspension of disbelief Evaluative structure to
perspectives used etc. the essay
accurately Made relevant and
Quotes helpful links to other
Gothic texts
General Essay Plan:
2
, For this essay plan, I have provided a basic paragraph structure that each of your paragraphs
should follow, PEA. Below that is a list of content that each of your paragraphs should
contain whilst following the PEA paragraph structure. This follows directly with the Carter
and Banks comparative essay plans that I have made for each comparative theme in Carter’s
The Bloody Chamber and Banks’ The Wasp Factory.
Introduction:
• Unpack the wording of the question
◦ Discuss briefly what the question means (show that you understand the key words
of the question)
‣ What do the specific words mean in relation to the texts - what is your
interpretation of the question.
• How well does this apply to the Gothic in general
• Place texts in terms of the Gothic canon - link back to question
• Place texts in terms of historical context - link back to question
• Consider how both texts are similar in relation to question - link to their themes
• Consider a key difference in the texts in relation to question
Main body paragraphs:
*make 2 points for the question, and 1 against -> OR (if not possible) 2 against the question,
and 1 for.
Paragraph 1:
• Point - start with a confident, comparative topic sentence (an answer for the question)
◦ "In both texts…"
• Evidence/Analysis - make argument on how one text conveys this (links to context / critics)
+ link back to key words of question
• Comparison point - say how the other text is similar
◦ "Similarly..."
• Evidence/Analysis - make argument on how other text conveys this (links context / critics)
• Link back to key words of question - how does the author use the Gothic to portray their
viewpoint
• (If possible) Counter-point - suggest how this text also differs from the previous point (how
does it challenge the previous idea and provide an alternative argument)
◦ “However…”
• Evidence/Analysis - make argument on how the text conveys this (links context / critics)
• Link back to key words of question - how does the author use the Gothic to portray their
viewpoint
• Conclusion - sum up main points made in the paragraph (draw out similarities and
differences)
◦ Develop reasons for differences between texts - link to authors' different aims and
agendas
◦ "Overall,..."
◦ "This difference is likely because..."
Paragraph 2:
3
