Critical Essay Writing
Structuring an Essay
Critical Essay – Structure
1. Introduction
– Explains to the reader what the essay is about.
2. Plot Summary
– Provides a brief summary of the text(s) being
addressed (sometimes included as part of the
introduction).
3. Body
– The main section of the essay. This is where the
question that has been set will be addressed.
4. Conclusion
– Summarises the main points the reader has made
in the body of the essay.
Critical Essay Writing
Introduction
Critical Essay - Introduction
Purpose
The Introduction section of a Critical Essay should explain to the
reader what the Critical Essay is about.
Content
The Introduction section should typically include the following
information:
• The title(s) of the text(s) you are writing about (put this inside
quotation marks, e.g. “The Great Gatsby”).
• The author(s) of the text(s) you are writing about.
• The genre of the text(s) (e.g. novel / drama / poem / short
story)
• The themes of the text(s) you are writing about (e.g.
friendship, poverty, the importance of history, bullying, racism,
etc)
• A reference to the question that the essay attempts to address.
Critical Essay Introduction – Example 1
“War Photographer” by Carol Ann Duffy is an
interesting poem that explores a range of issues,
such as war and social responsibility. The
following essay will demonstrate how Duffy’s
poem explores the theme of war.
Critical Essay Introduction – Example 2
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in
possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
The opening sentence of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” is
arguably as famous as the novel itself, and is frequently
referenced when illustrating Austen’s skill as a writer. However,
as well being a perfect example of the writer’s ability, and of the
dry humour that runs throughout the novel, that first sentence
perfectly highlights what is perhaps the most prominent theme
of “Pride and Prejudice” – British society’s preoccupation with
marriage. Through an examination of the novel’s two central
characters – Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam D’Arcy – it is
possible to see how Austen reflects on the institution of
marriage in her society.