Critical Essay Intermediate/Higher
Key Issues
 Relevance to the question is paramount. You must refer to
the question throughout your essay.
 Topic sentences must be clear, concise and make direct
reference to the question.
 Textual evidence is essential. You must quote and refer
closely to the text throughout response.
 You must provide analysis when you use quotations i.e.
detailed comments about the effect/impact of the evidence.
Analysis should be appropriate to the genre e.g.
Novels: character, theme, plot etc.
Poetry: rhythm, word choice, imagery, figurative language
etc.
 Personal reaction to the text should permeate the answer.
Critical Essay Intermediate/Higher
Sample Question
Choose a novel in which your admiration for a particular
character grows as the plot unfolds.
Explain briefly why your admiration increases and, in more
detail, discuss how the writer achieves this.
In your answer you must refer closely to the text and to at least
two of: characterisation, theme, key incidents, structure or any
other appropriate feature.
The question helps you to structure your answer.
A logical plan would therefore be:
1.
Introduction-title, author, identify character, refer to
question.
2.
Brief plot summary
3.
WHY my admiration for him/her increased in the novel.
“As the novel progressed I found that my admiration for Ralph
increased due to the courage he displayed in standing up to
Jack’s tribe of savages…
4.
HOW
How the writer’s use of characterisation contributed to my
increasing admiration for the character
“The writer’s use of characterisation contributed greatly to the
admiration I felt towards the Ralph, particularly the author’s
presentation of Ralph, Jack and Piggy…
5.
How the particular key incidents contributed to my increasing
admiration of the character.
“Also, the writer uses key scenes in the novel in order to
convince the reader that Ralph is a caring and courageous
character, particularly the final scene in the forest…
6.
Conclusion-conclude by referring to the question and answering
it. Try to finish with an interesting observation/opinion.
Opening and Closing Paragraphs
Exemplars
Opening Paragraph
“In the novel ‘Lord of the Flies’ by William Golding the writer
presents us with a dark, pessimistic view of human nature. He
describes the moral decline of a group of school-boys stranded
on a desert island, fighting for survival. Within this setting
Golding shows us what we, as human beings, are capable of:
violence, betrayal, murder. Although most of the boys become
savage, the character Ralph somehow manages to maintain his
values and morality. It is for this reason that my admiration for
him grew as the plot unfolded. The author made excellent use of
characterisation and key incidents and these techniques
encouraged me to sympathise increasingly with Ralph.
Closing Paragraph
“This is by no means an uplifting novel and its ending is bleak
but it does present us with some profound and interesting ideas.
I came to appreciate Mankind’s capacity for evil through the
behaviour of the ‘savages’ and this was disturbing. However,
Golding’s character Ralph offers us some hope. As the novel
progressed he increasingly displayed qualities of courage,
loyalty and a determination to fight against the wickedness
present on the island. I came to admire him as a true hero, a boy
who,
“…wept for the darkness in Man’s heart”.