The Essay
A system for successful essay writing
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What is an Essay?
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It is NOT
» A book summary
» A “book report”
» A book review
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It IS an essay that:
» Presents a
» Focuses on a
focused
literary part of
argument about
the book
that literary
(theme,
part.
conflicts,
» Is supported by
character
specific details
development, and quotes that
etc.) are explained.
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What are the key parts of
the essay?
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Start Taking
Essay Notes
Now!
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Introduction
» Restate the essay question, topic
» Outline your main arguments
» Should only be a few sentences
long
» Grab the reader’s attention
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Question
» Were the publishers right to have
included photos from the movie in
the book?
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Example C/B Grade
This essay will discuss why the
Restates publishers in Boyce’s novel
the Millions were wrong to have
question included photo from the
movie in the novel. It will
look at how the photos
Outlines disrupt reading of the
points
novel, weaken the spine of
the book and add to the
cost.
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Example A*
» Book publishers use various techniques to sell
their product, one of which is to capitalise on the
popularity of any movie made from the book.
This essay will examine the disadvantages of
placing photographs from the movie Millions in
the Boyce’s novel of the same name. It will look
at the increased cost to the consumer through
the inclusion of photographs as well as structural
concerns over the strength of the novel’s spine,
before outlining issues regarding the photographs
impact on the reading of the novel.
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Your turn
» Is this book suitable for year 8
study? Why, why not?
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The novel ‘Millions’, by Frank Cottrell
Boyce, is not suitable for year 8
study. It is does not include
excitement and adventure to
engage twelve year olds so the
novel seems drawn out and
uninteresting. It also includes
inappropriate subject matter that
may offend some year 8 students.
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The Body
» Organise arguments and
paragraphs logically
» Use topic sentences
» Use Point, Evidence, Explanation
» Link ideas/paragraphs through
concluding sentences
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Paragraphs
» Start with a topic sentence
» Series of P.E.E. sentences
» Concluding Sentence (extra marks
for linking to the next paragraph)
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A Topic Sentence …
» Gives the reader an idea of what
the paragraph is about.
» Are used to assist in the essay’s
logical flow.
» Keeps your writing focused for that
paragraph.
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Topic sentences are vitally
Topic
important in essay paragraphs.
Sentence
They let the reader know what
the paragraph is about. The
topic sentence in this paragraph
tells the reader that topic
sentences are ”vitally
important”. The reader now
knows what the paragraph will
be about and the reason this
topic is being covered.
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What is P. E. E. ?
» POINT – Make a point: This is a
statement that answers part of you
essay question and addresses a
part of the paragraph’s topic.
» It should relate to the main idea of
the essay.
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Topic sentences are vitally
Topic
important in essay paragraphs.
Sentence
They let the reader know what
the paragraph is about. The
Point topic sentence in this paragraph
tells the reader that topic
sentences are ”vitally
important”. The reader now
knows what the paragraph will
be about and the reason this
topic is being covered.
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Evidence
» Through a general comment, or a
quote, provide evidence that:
» Backs up your point
» Is relevant
» Is the best example that you can find.
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Topic sentences are vitally
Topic
important in essay paragraphs.
Sentence
They let the reader know what
the paragraph is about. The
Point topic sentence in this paragraph
tells the reader that topic
Evidence sentences are ”vitally
important”. The reader now
knows what the paragraph will
be about and the reason this
topic is being covered.
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Explanation
» Here’s where most students fall down.
» The explanation MUST explain how and
why your point and evidence addresses
the essay topic or provides and answer to
the question.
» It can be more than one sentence,
depending on how much detail you are
going in to.
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Topic sentences are vitally
Topic
important in essay paragraphs.
Sentence
They let the reader know what
the paragraph is about. The
Point topic sentence in this paragraph
tells the reader that topic
Evidence sentences are ”vitally
important”. The reader now
Explanation knows what the paragraph will
be about and the reason this
topic is being covered.
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Topic sentences are vitally important in essay
paragraphs. Firstly, they let the reader know what
the paragraph is about. The topic sentence in this
paragraph tells the reader that E. E. sentences are
FIRST P. topic
”vitally important”. The reader now knows what
the paragraph will be about and the reason this
topic is being covered. Secondly, topic sentences
assist in an essay’s logical flow. By simply taking
the topic sentences from each paragraph a very
SECOND P. E. E.
good summary of the essay can be created. This
allows the reader to see how you are building up
your argument. Finally, they help to keep your
writing focussed. All of the points and examples in
this paragraph relate to the topic of the paragraph,
THIRD P. E. E.
topic sentences. This helps you maximise you
marks by not ‘waffling’ or going off topic. Without
topic sentences readers would need to use a lot of
guess work to determine what you are saying in the
essay, topic sentences lead into the main structure
of a paragraph, especially P.E.E.
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Clincher/Link sentence
» This is the final sentence in a
paragraph.
» It can sum up the paragraph,
» Or link to the next paragraph,
» Or both
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Topic sentences are vitally important in essay
paragraphs. Firstly, they let the reader know what
FIRST P. E. E.
the paragraph is about. The topic sentence in this
paragraph tells the reader that topic sentences are
”vitally important”. The reader now knows what
the paragraph will be about and the reason this
topic is being covered. Secondly, topic sentences
assist in an essay’s logical flow. By simply taking
the topic sentences from eachP. E. E.
SECOND paragraph a very
good summary of the essay can be created. This
allows the reader to see how you are building up
your argument. Finally, they help to keep your
writing focussed. All of the points and examples in
this essay relate THIRD P. E. E. paragraph, topic
to the topic of the
sentences. This helps you maximise you marks by
not ‘waffling’ or going off topic. Without topic
sentences readers would need to use a lot of guess
work to determine what you are saying in the
essay; topic sentences lead into the P. E. structure
CLINCHER/LINK main E.
of a paragraph, especially P.E.E.
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The use Point, Evidence, Explanation (or PEE as it is
commonly known) in an essay is crucial. PEE lets you
follow a structured and logical format for writing your
essay. By making a Point, then providing Evidence that
proves your Point and then giving an explanation as to
why your point is important, you are building a
compelling case in your writing. This allows the reader
to fully understand exactly what you are trying to say
and why. PEE also forces you to think about what you
are saying and to justify your reasons for inclusion. The
previous sentences show thought and understand, but
also provide a justified reason for making the point and
including it in this essay. By doing so, only the best
information should be included in the essay, making it a
more compelling piece of writing. Following the
structure you will also avoid making you essay sound
repetitive. Numerous examples abound of students
simply listing points without any explanation. This
confuses the reader and makes you essay sound
repetitive and badly thought out.
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Conclusion
» Restate your main arguments
» Summarise how they answer the
question, or address the topic.
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In conclusion, this essay has examined the
methods and benefits involved in
structuring an essay correctly. It has
explored the importance of a good
introduction and conclusion, how to
structure a body paragraph and examined
appropriate language use for an essay.
Academic writing, and in particular the
essay, is a much used format so
structuring an essay correctly has clear
benefits, both to yourself and the reader.
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