Writing+an+Examination+Essay

**Make use of the following advice:** Make sure you understand what they are asking for so that you select the one you know most about. **Remember – the questions are split into two parts.** The opening line acts like a hook to try and reel you in. Read that first sentence and work out whether or not this question might be suitable for you, If it is, move on to the second part of the question and work out exactly what is required of you within the answer. Here is an example for you. **Choose a play in which a central character behaves in an obsessive manner.** **Describe the nature of the character’s obsessive behaviour and discuss the influence this behaviour has on your understanding of the character in the play as a whole.** You must make sure that you select at least two techniques to discuss as well. Please note these will either be included in the question or in a box at the top of the page. **The Question:** **Planning your answer:** **Putting Pen to Paper** The first sentences are important. Try to summarise your response to the question so that examiner has some idea of how you are going to approach it. For example, do not say ‘I am going to write about the character of Macbeth and show how evil he was’ but instead write ‘Macbeth was a weak-willed, vicious traitor. Totally dominated by his “fiend-like queen” he deserved the epitaph “this dead butcher” – or did he? Jump straight into the essay; do not nibble at its extremities for a page and a half. High marks will be gained by the candidate who can show he or she has a mind engaged with the text. Your personal response is rewarded – provided you are answering the question! As you write your essay //constantly refer to your list of points// and make sure you are actually responding to them. **How long should it be?** There is no ‘correct’ length. What you must do is answer the question set, fully and sensitively in the time allowed. Allocate time to each question according to the percentage of marks awarded to it. **How much quotation of paraphrase?** Use only that which is relevant and contributes to the quality and clarity of your answer. **RELEVANT USE OF RELEVANT QUOTATIONS IS ESSENTIAL.**
 * __Writing an Essay in the Exam__**
 * **Carefully study each of the questions.**
 * **Answer the question**. Sounds obvious, right? Maybe so but quite often pupils fail because they have not addressed the key concerns of the task.
 * **Answer the whole question.** I know, I know, you think I’m treating you like an idiot. I honestly don’t mean to. Many students end up spending their time answering one aspect of the question and not enough time on another. They fail as a result.
 * 1) Read and understand every word of it. If it asks you to compare (the similarities) and/or contrast (the differences) between characters or events, then that is what you must do.
 * 2) Underline or highlight all of the key words and phrases that mention characters, events and themes, and all instructions as to what to do, e.g. compare, contrast, outline, comment, give an account, write about, show how/what/where.
 * 3) Now write a short list of things you have to do, one item under the other. A typical question will only have between two and five items at most for you to cope with.
 * 1) Look at each of the points you have identified from the question. Think about what you are going to say about each. Much of it will be pretty obvious, but if you think of any good ideas, jot them down before you forget them
 * 2) Decide in what order you are going to deal with the question’s major points. Number them in sequence.
 * 3) So far you have done some concentrated, thoughtful reading and written down maybe fifteen to twenty words. You know roughly what you are going to say in response to the question and in what order – if you do not, you have time to give serious thought to trying one of the other questions.