How to answer an essay question
Or… how to write an analytical essay
REMIX THE RUBRIC
__________________________________________________
• demonstrate understanding of a text’s distinctive qualities
and how these shape meaning
• organise, develop and express ideas using language
appropriate to audience, purpose and form
___________________________________________________
demonstrate knowledge and analysis skill in naming and
explaining a text’s language forms and features… and how
these show the ideas, concerns, characters and events in the
text
The first dot-point of the rubric
is the blue-print (map) for the
thesis statement of your essay
Now… for the essay question…
2011 HSC Exam Question
Discuss how Owen’s perspective on human conflict is
conveyed in his poetry.
In your response, make detailed reference to at least
TWO poems set for study.
The prescribed poems are:
* The Parable of the Old Man and the Young
* Anthem for Doomed Youth
* Dulce Et Decorum Est
* Futility
* Disabled
* Mental Cases
STEP 1 – UNPACK THE QUESTION
• DISCUSS = examine / consider / debate / show
different perspectives of / review
• HOW = what language/poetic forms and
features
• PERSPECTIVE = viewpoint / view / evaluation /
opinion / side
• HUMAN = individual / social / public / civil /
community / group
• CONFLICT = war / battle / argument / difference
of opinion / struggle disagreement
What is HUMAN CONFLICT?
• inner conflict within a person
• a difference of opinion between 2 people
• a difference of values and beliefs among
different groups of people (Govt. and public)
• When one person of group challenges
another person or group
• A violent fight between individuals, groups or
countries
STEP 2 – REWRITE THE QUESTION IN THE FULL…
PLAIN-ENGLISH… VERSION:
Examine and analyse the
poetic forms and features
Owen uses to show different
viewpoints about different
human conflicts.
STEP 3 – WRITE THE THESIS
STATEMENT
Example 1.
In his poems Dulce et Decorum est and Anthem for
Doomed Youth, Wilfred Owen uses poetic forms and
features to show ideas and perspectives about the
realities and the horrors of a range of human
conflicts during WWI.
STEP 4. Check your thesis statement to
make
sure
it
“matches”
the
rubric!
__________________________________________
• demonstrate knowledge and analysis skill in naming and
explaining a text’s language forms and features… and how
these show the ideas, concerns, characters and events in the
text
_____________________________________
In his poems Dulce et Decorum est and Anthem for Doomed
Youth, Wilfred Owen uses poetic forms and features to show
ideas and perspectives about the realities and the horrors of a
range of human conflicts during WWI.