What does a good literary essay look like?
70% of English A1 is assessed by literary essays. It is therefore important that you crack the “code” of how to write a really good essay. The following generic advice on essay writing should be followed for every English essay you write (and will help your essay writing in other subjects too). 1. Firstly, remember to: • write the title of the essay at the top of the page • use italics, inverted commas or underlining to indicate the title of a text • use the author’s full name or surname • write about literature in the present tense • use formal, precise language: aim to say something very clever very simply • use the correct terminology for the text you are writing about (is it a novel, a play, a poem?) 2. Include an introduction which: • is one, concise paragraph • shows that you understand the essay title • focuses on the specific text (or extract) you are writing about • sets out a clear argument 3. In the main body of the essay: • structure paragraphs: Point – Evidence – Analysis
