Guides to Writing Critical Essays
The Tasty Pizza of Essay Goodness... (and
other extended metaphors) - a guide to what is expected of your
critical essay and some tips on how to create a full response
Asserting your thoughts - Analysis and Evaluation
Relating to Theme(s)
How To Write A Critical Essay
Great Verbs - Analytical Writing
Linking Language
Essay Guide - Gatsby and Setting
Examples of Critical Essays
The following examples are for
reference/moderation purposes only. Some have been created by pupils.
Others are teacher created exemplars.
Remember, a
key component of critical writing is developing your own evaluative
stance on the text. Assert your thoughts/ideas with confidence. Discuss
why the message of the text is (still) important in our contemporary
society. Tell me what you have learned about society/yourself through your study.
(Old Marking Scheme - out of 25)
The Great Gatsby - 13/25
Havisham - 17/25
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - 25/25
(New Marking Scheme - out of 20)
The following essays have been shared after gaining the consent of the named writers. Please note, these essays were the writer's first attempts to formulate a response having just completed the text. Feedback given, especially the grading, is overly generous and takes this limitation into account. The written feedback does not contain all of the teacher input given to pupils as oral instructions/caveats to the marks allotted were discussed with the pupils on a one-to-one basis.
The Great Gatsby - 19/20 Higher
Despite problems with the introduction, as a first attempt at writing about the text this essay shows a true sense of evaluation and personal reaction from the writer. It is clearly a response to the set question but would benefit greatly from more explicit, direct reference to the essay question - that of Gatsby's complexity.
The Great Gatsby - 16/20 Higher
Whilst there are issues with punctuation, spelling and occasional phrasing errors, the writer's personal evaluation and consideration of the themes of the text is clear. The response is also structured to look at the text as a whole and makes clear attempts to utilise the PEARL structure.
The Great Gatsby - 17/20 Higher
This is probably my favourite essay of the three first response examples given here - despite the grade disparity. The writer has taken the time to consider the importance of understanding the choices made by the protagonist. The response touches upon aspects of internal conflict and character motivation in Fitzgerald's creation of a relatable (if not likeable) character. A little more direct reference (by name of technique) to the technical features being examined would help.
Critical Essay - Black Mirror
Mr McPhail's example essay on Black Mirror
Critical Essay - The Crucible
Essay
1 - Choose a play in which a character faces isolation. Examine the
importance of this isolation to our understanding of the character's
development and the wider themes of the text.
Critical Essay - Animal Farm
Mr McLaughlin's Exemplar Essay
