Critical Essay
Writing
Structuring an Essay
Critical Essay - Structure
Although approaches to writing Critical
Essays vary, they typically consist of four
main sections:
1. Introduction
2. Plot Summary
3. Body
4. Conclusion
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 - 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.
Critical Essay – Plot Summary
Purpose
The Summary section of a Critical Essay should briefly explain to the reader
what happens in the text(s).
• It should be assumed that the reader has not read the text(s) which are
summarised.
Content
The plot summary should be kept very brief (five or six sentences at most).
One way to approach writing a Plot Summary is as follows:
1. State the setting of the story (where and when the events occur).
2. State what happens:
a) at the beginning of the text.
b) during the text.
c) at the end of the text.
Throughout the summary you should, where appropriate, make reference to
characters and locations that are central to the story.
Critical Essay Plot Summary –
Example
The novel is set in modern-day England and begins
when the central character, Harry, is made an orphan
and sent to stay with his unpleasant Aunt and Uncle.
However, Harry soon discovers that he is a wizard and
has been enrolled at Hogwarts’ School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry. At the school, Harry has many exciting
adventures with new friends Ron Weasley and
Hermione Granger, with whom he helps to defeat the
evil Lord Voldemort. The novel ends with Harry
returning to his Aunt and Uncle’s for the summer
holidays, eagerly awaiting his next year at Hogwarts.
Critical Essay - Body
Purpose
The Body section of a Critical Essay should attempt to answer the
essay question that has been set.
Content
• The Body section should consist of a series of Points about the
text which attempt to answer the essay question.
• Each of these Points needs to be supported with Evidence.
– This Evidence should be a brief Quotation from the text(s)
being written about.
– In order for the reader to understand the Quotations
(remember, they may not have read the text(s) being written
about), the Context of each Quotation in the texts(s) should
be provided.
• There should be an Explanation of how each piece of evidence
supports the Point being made.
Critical Essay - PCQEs
Like other sections of the Critical Essay, there are
ways in which the Body section can be broken
down into structural elements, or building blocks.
One of these ways is called the PCQE.
PCQEs are building blocks which can combine to
form the body of a Critical Essay.
POINT
CONTEXT
QUOTATION
EXPLANATION
} EVIDENCE
Critical Essay – PCQE Example
From the start of “Valentine”, Duffy makes it clear
that her poem will present love in an unsentimental
manner. This is evident in the opening line of the
poem, when Duffy clearly indicates what her gift to
her lover will not be:
“Not a red rose or a satin heart.”
This rejection of typical, clichéd romantic gifts
represents Duffy’s attitude towards romance as a
whole. In the same way that she refuses to give her
lover a traditional, clichéd gift, her perspective on
love is neither clichéd or traditional, as indicated
throughout the poem.
Critical Essay - Conclusion
Purpose
• The Conclusion section of a Critical Essay should remind
the reader of the main Points made in the body section.
Content
• You should not introduce any new points or information
at this stage.
The Conclusion section should typically include the following
information:
1. The text(s) and author(s) being written about.
2. A reference to the question that the essay has attempted
to address.
3. A summary of the main Points made in the Body section.
“Sum up the points” does sound vague; however these are
simply the Ps of the PCQEs you have used in the body of
your essay.
Critical Essay – Conclusion
Example
In conclusion, in “Of Mice and Men”, John
Steinbeck has created a range of characters who are
sympathetic but nevertheless flawed in some way.
This can be seen in his treatment of George, who is
seen to be kind and caring in the way he looks after
Lenny, but nevertheless flawed in the way he bullies
Lenny and takes advantage of his trusting nature and
low intelligence. Similarly, Curly’s wife can also be
seen to be a sympathetic yet flawed character…