How to write
the literature
essay!
ENGLISH: GRADE 11
2023
THE “FIVE PARAGRAPH METHOD”
• PARAGRAPH 1 – INTRODUCTION
• PARAGRAPH 2 – BODY – DISCUSS ONE
ARGUMENT/POINT
• PARAGRAPH 3 – BODY – DISCUSS ONE
ARGUMENT/POINT
• PARAGRAPH 4 – BODY – DISCUSS ONE
ARGUMENT/POINT
• PARAGRAPH 5 - CONCLUSION
“The Crucible”
“Readers are encouraged to feel
sympathy for John Proctor in the
play, but his actions and his
attitude to others contribute to his
own downfall.”
Discuss the validity (truth) of this
statement.
Introductory paragraph:
In your planning you first need to
decide whether you feel that the
statement is valid or not. For the
purpose of this exercise let us decide
that you DO think that the statement is
valid.
• NOW YOU MUST DECIDE ON THE THREE
POINTS YOU WILL BE DISCUSSING TO
SUPPORT YOUR OPINION
You need to start the introductory paragraph
by stating e.g.
• You need to start the introductory
paragraph by stating e.g.
‘In Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible”
readers
will
• ‘In Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” the
tend to feel sympathy forreaders
…’ will tend…’
• Now write down the
threearguments/ points that you will
raise in the three paragraphs in the
body. These points/ arguments
shouldbe written in one sentence if
possible.
Now write down the three arguments/ points
that you will raise in the three paragraphs in
the body. These points/ arguments should be
written in one sentence if possible.
Let us concentrate on these points for the
purpose of this exercise:
• The reasons for feeling sympathy for Proctor.
• Proctor’s actions that put him in a vulnerable
position
• Proctor’s rude attitude towards the court
officials and how this attitude impacts on
him
REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING:
• WRITE IN THE PRESENT TENSE
• USE THE THIRD PERSON E.G. “THE
AUDIENCE FEEL…”
• DO NOT INTRODUCE TOPIC BY
STATING - “THIS ESSAY…”, OR “MY
OPINION…”
• DO NOT USE SUB-HEADINGS, JUST
USE FIVE PARAGRAPHS
• DO NOT USE CONTRACTIONS OR
INFORMAL LANGUGE
• SUBSTANTIATE BY QUOTING OR
REFERRING TO THE DRAMA
AN EXAMPLE OF AN INTRODUCTION:
IN ARTHUR MILLER’S “THE CRUCIBLE”,
READERS WILL DEFINITELY HAVE GOOD
REASONS TO FEEL SYMPATHY FOR JOHN
PROCTOR, BUT HIS LACK OF MORALS
AND RUDE ATTITUDE TO AUTHORITY DO
NOT ENCOURAGE SYMPATHY OR
UNDERSTANDING FROM THE LOCAL
AUTHORITIES.
Paragraph 1 (Example – without quotes)
Proctor is definitely one of the few sensible
The body characters in the drama, despite his mistake
with Abigail and this encourages readers to
of the
feel sympathy for him. He is intelligent and
essay
consists of logical and sees through the young girls from
the
start.
He
struggles
to
come
to
terms
with
three
the mistake that he has made and
paragraphs: unfortunately struggles to hide his negative
attitude towards Parris. He is wracked with
guilt, and is willing to admit his guilt in an
attempt to save his wife.
BODY: PARAGRAPH 2 (Example – no quotes)
PROCTOR IS TEMPTED BY ABIGAIL AND IS GUILTY OF
ADULTERY. THIS MAKES HIM VULNERABLE AND
RELUCTANT TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT ABIGAIL’S
ADMISSION THAT THERE WAS NO WITCHCRAFT IN THE
FOREST. PROCTOR ALSO DOES NOT ATTEND CHURCH
REGULARLY AND THIS COUNTS AGAINST HIM WHEN
REVEREND HALE IS TRYING TO INVESTIGATE THE
ALLEGATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE. HALE IS
LEGALISTIC AND UNFORTUNATELY PROCTOR CANNOT
REMEMBER ALL THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
BODY: PARAGRAPH 3 (Example – no quotes)
JOHN PROCTOR HAS A PROBLEM WITH PARRIS AND THIS
ATTITUDE FILTERS THROUGH IN HIS ATTITUDE TO
AUTHORITY. HE HAS SEEN THROUGH ABIGAIL FROM THE
START, BUT HAS WAITED TOO LONG TO REVEAL THIS
INFORMATION TO THE AUTHORITIES. HE TREATS THE
AUTHORITIES WITH CONTEMPT AS OPPOSED TO
WINNING THEIR GOODWILL BY CHANGING HIS ATTITUDE.
JUDGE DANFORTH DOES TRY TO BE OBJECTIVE, TO HIS
CREDIT, BUT ELIZABETH PROCTOR TRIES TO SAVE HER
HUSBAND’S HONOUR BY LYING ABOUT HIS AFFAIR WITH
ABIGAIL.
CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH: (Example)
Despite the fact that readers tend to feel
sympathy for Proctor, he is guilty of adultery,
which makes him hide information which
could have saved his wife. His aggressive
attitude toward the authorities counts
against him when he tries to convince the
court officials to believe in his wife’s
innocence as opposed to Abigail’s
accusations of witchcraft.
TASK: ESSAY QUESTION 2
“Elizabeth Proctor shows her love for
her husband when she tries to lie on
his behalf. Ironically, this lie, which
was meant to protect his honour,
actually works against him when he is
giving evidence in court.”
Discuss the validity of this statement.
SUGGESTED POINTS TO FOCUS ON:
•The relationship between John Proctor and
Abigail
•Proctor’s attempt to tell the truth about
Abigail and witchcraft
•The reason(s) why Elizabeth’s attempt to save
her husband is unsuccessful
Please write your introductory paragraph!