How to… write a
The Handmaid’s Tale
essay
Section A: The Literary Essay
Both essay questions count 30 marks, and you should spend approximately 1 hour completing each one.
These questions focus on the ability to state and defend a position.
What you need to know (taken and adapted from the IEB Subject Assessment Guidelines 2023):
GUIDELINES LITERARY ESSAY
The literature essay assesses your ability to understand, interpret, and form an opinion on themes,
characters, symbolism, etc. Essay topics will be open-ended enough to allow for personal interpretations
within the limits of the author’s accepted intentions.
Here are some suggestions from the IEB’s Subject Assessment Guidelines:
Length: The length of your essays should be between 2½ and 3½ pages (in average handwriting) –
or approximately 600—700 words. This should be seen as a guideline only. There is NO penalty for
length other than the development of the argument in the essay itself. A word count at the end of
the essay is NOT required. (This is a guideline only. Do not waste time counting words and writing
down a word count. Markers assess the essay on its substance not its length. If your essay is too
short it will naturally lack substance and if your essay is too long it will naturally become repetitive
and veer off-topic.)
Structure, logic, and organisation of ideas will be assessed as part of the holistic, final assessment
out of 30 marks. The way in which you argue is as important as what you are arguing.
o Your introduction should introduce your argument, provide your essay with clear focus and
direction – and demonstrate an understanding of the topic.
o The conclusion should ‘tie up’ the argument conclusively.
o Each paragraph should develop the argument and must not simply be a series of
unconnected statements. Examiners want to see evidence of a stance being taken.
o There should be no sub-headings.
o Use transitional statements between paragraphs, for example: in addition, also,
consequently, on the other hand, to sum up, in fact, what is more, etc.
XANTHIPI THEOPHANOUS 1
, The structure of your essay is as important as its content. Therefore:
o Short, pertinent quotations or textual references from the prescribed texts should be
used to enrich and substantiate your argument. Quotations should be integrated into
sentences.
o In order to avoid becoming side-tracked from the focus of the essay topic, you are
encouraged to refer regularly to the essence of the given topic, almost reminding
yourself and your reader that you are focused on the literary exploration which the question
requires.
o Incidents or actions from the texts should be analysed (not merely mentioned or retold)
to add substance to your argument.
Language:
o The register of the response should be formal; avoid colloquialisms, abbreviations, and
contractions. Avoid figurative or emotive language (unless you are quoting, obviously).
o Underline the titles of literary texts.
o The present tense should be used throughout the essay. In line with much current
academic discourse, it is perfectly acceptable to use the first person or the third person when
writing a formal essay.
INTRODUCTION:
analyse key words -
link to text & take a
stance - thesis
statement
CONCLUSION: PARAGRAPH:
summarise main
points brought up in first point to prove
introduction & thesis statement/link
addressed in each to a key aspect of
paragraph; provide topic - topic
an answer to the sentence + example
thesis statement. + analysis
PARAGRAPH: PARAGRAPH:
third point to prove second point to
thesis statement/link Transition prove thesis
to a key aspect of Phrase statement/link to a
topic - topic key aspect of topic -
sentence + example topic sentence +
+ analysis example + analysis
http://www.wolfgroupweb.com/en/essay-structure
XANTHIPI THEOPHANOUS 2
The Handmaid’s Tale
essay
Section A: The Literary Essay
Both essay questions count 30 marks, and you should spend approximately 1 hour completing each one.
These questions focus on the ability to state and defend a position.
What you need to know (taken and adapted from the IEB Subject Assessment Guidelines 2023):
GUIDELINES LITERARY ESSAY
The literature essay assesses your ability to understand, interpret, and form an opinion on themes,
characters, symbolism, etc. Essay topics will be open-ended enough to allow for personal interpretations
within the limits of the author’s accepted intentions.
Here are some suggestions from the IEB’s Subject Assessment Guidelines:
Length: The length of your essays should be between 2½ and 3½ pages (in average handwriting) –
or approximately 600—700 words. This should be seen as a guideline only. There is NO penalty for
length other than the development of the argument in the essay itself. A word count at the end of
the essay is NOT required. (This is a guideline only. Do not waste time counting words and writing
down a word count. Markers assess the essay on its substance not its length. If your essay is too
short it will naturally lack substance and if your essay is too long it will naturally become repetitive
and veer off-topic.)
Structure, logic, and organisation of ideas will be assessed as part of the holistic, final assessment
out of 30 marks. The way in which you argue is as important as what you are arguing.
o Your introduction should introduce your argument, provide your essay with clear focus and
direction – and demonstrate an understanding of the topic.
o The conclusion should ‘tie up’ the argument conclusively.
o Each paragraph should develop the argument and must not simply be a series of
unconnected statements. Examiners want to see evidence of a stance being taken.
o There should be no sub-headings.
o Use transitional statements between paragraphs, for example: in addition, also,
consequently, on the other hand, to sum up, in fact, what is more, etc.
XANTHIPI THEOPHANOUS 1
, The structure of your essay is as important as its content. Therefore:
o Short, pertinent quotations or textual references from the prescribed texts should be
used to enrich and substantiate your argument. Quotations should be integrated into
sentences.
o In order to avoid becoming side-tracked from the focus of the essay topic, you are
encouraged to refer regularly to the essence of the given topic, almost reminding
yourself and your reader that you are focused on the literary exploration which the question
requires.
o Incidents or actions from the texts should be analysed (not merely mentioned or retold)
to add substance to your argument.
Language:
o The register of the response should be formal; avoid colloquialisms, abbreviations, and
contractions. Avoid figurative or emotive language (unless you are quoting, obviously).
o Underline the titles of literary texts.
o The present tense should be used throughout the essay. In line with much current
academic discourse, it is perfectly acceptable to use the first person or the third person when
writing a formal essay.
INTRODUCTION:
analyse key words -
link to text & take a
stance - thesis
statement
CONCLUSION: PARAGRAPH:
summarise main
points brought up in first point to prove
introduction & thesis statement/link
addressed in each to a key aspect of
paragraph; provide topic - topic
an answer to the sentence + example
thesis statement. + analysis
PARAGRAPH: PARAGRAPH:
third point to prove second point to
thesis statement/link Transition prove thesis
to a key aspect of Phrase statement/link to a
topic - topic key aspect of topic -
sentence + example topic sentence +
+ analysis example + analysis
http://www.wolfgroupweb.com/en/essay-structure
XANTHIPI THEOPHANOUS 2
