HOW TO WRITE A LITERATURE ESSAY

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HOW TO WRITE A LITERATURE ESSAY
The three-step process
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STEP 1
Analyse the topic

• Read the question carefully at least three times.
• Underline the key words.
• Write an instruction to yourself in your own
  words, stating clearly what you need to do.
• Example topic
• Hamlet is a weak man, paralysed by thought and
  incapable of meaningful action. There is nothing
  noble about him he is cruel and without honour.
• Discuss the validity of this statement.

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• Example analysis
• Hamlet is a weak man, paralysed by thought and
  incapable of meaningful action. There is nothing
  noble about him he is cruel and without honour.
• Discuss the validity of this statement.
• Paraphrasing
• I need to write an essay in which I discuss
  whether it is true that Hamlet is weak. I need to
  show whether his tendency to think about things
  means that he cannot act in a meaningful way. I
  need to discuss whether he is noble or not, and
  whether he is cruel and without honour.

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STEP 2
Design and complete a mindmap
IS HAMLET WEAK?
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(No Transcript)
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STEP 3
Write the essay

• Step 3.1 Decide on the focus for each paragraph
• The mind map strands seem to suggest that the
  body of the essay should have three paragraphs.
• Paragraph 1 Discuss Hamlets inability to act as
  a result of his tendency to think and analyse
  (Paralysed by thought strand).
• Paragraph 2 Discuss examples of Hamlets ability
  to act (Action strand).
• Paragraph 3 Discuss the extent to which Hamlet
  can be considered noble or cruel (Noble,
  Cruel, Honour to Ophelia strands).

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• Step 3.2 Write the introduction
• The purpose of the introduction is to respond to
  the topic, and indicate the direction the essay
  will take.
• Use the appropriate style and register for formal
  writing.
• Compare these opening paragraphs. They are for
  the same essay on Shakespeare's Hamlet.

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Example opening paragraph 1
I agree with the statement to a degree. This
essay will discuss the reasons why Hamlet can be
seen as weak, paralysed by thought, incapable of
action and inclined to be cruel. It will also
discuss the extent to which the statement is not
an accurate reflection of his character.
Content is fair and indicates learners response
to the question.
Writing style is clumsy.
Key arguments are not clearly introduced.
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Example opening paragraph 2
Essay will discuss how Hamlet is capable of
swift action when he is upset.
Essay will discuss how analytical thought
prevents Hamlet from carrying out revenge.
Hamlet is certainly slow to carry out his
revenge. His tendency to analyse prevents him
from taking swift action. However, in instances
where he is deeply moved, he is very quick to
act, and is even capable of extreme cruelty.
Hamlet, like every man, has the capacity for both
nobility and brutality.
Essay will look at Hamlets cruelty.
Essay will conclude that Hamlets defining
characteristic is his humanity.
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• STEP 3.3 Write the body of the essay
• Once you have analysed the topic, done a mind
  map, planned your essay and written the
  introduction, you can begin writing the body of
  your essay.
• Each paragraph should follow the SIR pattern
• S State the topic sentence, i.e. the sentence
  indicating the key point to be developed in the
  paragraph
• I Illustrate the point by giving detailed
  examples from the text. Explain the relevance of
  each example
• R Relate the point being made to the essay
  topic and link to the next paragraph

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• STEP 3.4 Write the conclusion
• The conclusion must bring together all the
  different strands in the essay and round off the
  essay by presenting a final statement.
• The conclusion makes a final point of ideas or
  facts developed
• in previous paragraphs.
• For example
• Hamlet is potentially great. He does not act on a
  whim killing does not come easily to him. While
  he seeks to honour his fathers commands, he
  finds the possible consequences for his soul an
  insurmountable obstacle. Hamlet is neither noble
  nor cruel he is a man like every man, whose
  emotion clouds his judgement, and whose judgement
  sharpens his conscience.