Literary Essay
• Read it properly to see exactly what is required of you.
• Highlight or underline the important words
• Break down the topic into parts. Consider exactly what you need to talk about.
Sometimes it is more than one thing.
• These are then your LINKS/SIGNPOSTS and must be discussed in each paragraph.
• Take a stance. Decide if you agree or disagree with any statements being made in the
topic.
• You MUST PLAN your essay. (Use a mind-map or make short notes.) You may use
only one A4 page to plan.
• Include a short reference to your introduction and conclusion; points with proof;
quotations and topic links/signposts. Number your points in the order in which you
will use them and cross out any points you decide not to include in your essay.
This must include the following FIVE elements: AUTHOR'S NAME; TITLE OF NOVEL
(underlined); a TOPIC STATEMENT (which can be a re-wording of the original topic) your
INTENTION (what you are going to be doing in the essay) and STANCE. (Use the mnemonic
TASTI if it helps you to remember.]
When communicating your stance, state whether you are going to prove or disprove the
topic statement. Don't, however, say: "In this essay, I am going to..." Your approach needs to
be more sophisticated: "During the course of this essay... will be discussed..."
If you are given a choice of characters or issues to discuss, you need to state your choice in
the introduction.
Do not use first person (I/ME/US/WE/OUR).
The introduction encapsulates the entire essay.
• Read it properly to see exactly what is required of you.
• Highlight or underline the important words
• Break down the topic into parts. Consider exactly what you need to talk about.
Sometimes it is more than one thing.
• These are then your LINKS/SIGNPOSTS and must be discussed in each paragraph.
• Take a stance. Decide if you agree or disagree with any statements being made in the
topic.
• You MUST PLAN your essay. (Use a mind-map or make short notes.) You may use
only one A4 page to plan.
• Include a short reference to your introduction and conclusion; points with proof;
quotations and topic links/signposts. Number your points in the order in which you
will use them and cross out any points you decide not to include in your essay.
This must include the following FIVE elements: AUTHOR'S NAME; TITLE OF NOVEL
(underlined); a TOPIC STATEMENT (which can be a re-wording of the original topic) your
INTENTION (what you are going to be doing in the essay) and STANCE. (Use the mnemonic
TASTI if it helps you to remember.]
When communicating your stance, state whether you are going to prove or disprove the
topic statement. Don't, however, say: "In this essay, I am going to..." Your approach needs to
be more sophisticated: "During the course of this essay... will be discussed..."
If you are given a choice of characters or issues to discuss, you need to state your choice in
the introduction.
Do not use first person (I/ME/US/WE/OUR).
The introduction encapsulates the entire essay.
