1. Essay Writing
Complete link to tips and help (only 5 pages long!) : Essay writing is a difficult skill to grasp, and sometimes people
get bogged down in learning a ‘formula’ and try to produce a perfect essay regardless of what the question is.
Plan Plan Plan
Bullet point your main points;
number those bullet points;
associate them with pieces of evidence from the stimulus;
try to link in evidence from case studies.
Essential features of a ‘good’ essay
 A logical argument; once you have decided what the ‘answer’ is, you need to prove your answer in relation
to a question or statement.
 A clear structure where the reader can ‘follow’ you through the essay – if you plan (numbering your points),
you can ensure that each point is linked and will flow to create a smooth transition between your points.
 An argument based on close textual reading. All of your ideas should stem from the stimulus and case
studies from class; this will ensure that your comments are relevant, if they closely links back to the stimulus
or a relevant piece of evidence.
 An awareness of texts as ‘constructs’ – the creation of resources based on a series of deliberate choices.
 Equally you need to consider context; how contemporary audiences and producers differ from those in the
past.

2. The Five Stage Essay Structure
Stage 1 : The Introduction
A paragraph which concisely and effectively establishes your broader understanding of the topic you are writing
about. The introduction should furnish the reader with a sense that you understand the statement or question given,
and can also indicate an individual’s own ideas also.
Stage 2 : Argument
At this point, outline your initial response to the question. In other words, you are going to describe the argument
that you are going to present in the rest of the essay. You need to outline consisely your ideas about the question
and what you believe to be your ‘answer’. In ‘How far...’ style questions, this will involve some comment on exactly
‘how far’ you agree with the title proposition and other elements you want to explore in relation to the question.
Stage 3 : Body Paragraphs
In each of the ‘body paragraphs’, you lead your reader through a series of points that support your perspective. Each
point would be supported with evidence from the stimuli and then comments about how this material is relevant to
your point and perspective. Additionally, you may have relevant case study evidence which further supporters your
perspective.
Point:Introduce the topic of the paragraph.
Evidence: Quotation, description, paraphrasing, summarises the stimulus.
Explanation: A commentary which explores the stimulus evidence and relates it to your point.
Reference to question:Ensure you have linked this back to the essay question and have answered it.
Connective word or phrase: Additionally. In support of this. In addition. To further confirm this.
Evidence: Quotation, description, paraphrasing, summarises the case study/independent evidence and relates it to
your point.
Explanation: A commentary which explores the case study/independent evidence and relates it to your point.
Reference to question:Ensure you have linked this back to the essay question and have answered it.
Stage 4 :Re-visit the question
Having discussed each point in detail in the ‘body paragraphs’ you then to return to the exam question and re-state
you intended to prove in the essay. Re-state what you wanted to prove, and outline/summarise/condense those
paragraphs to say how they have supported the question and your response to it. This should be a developed
commentary and what you have shown in the essay with regards to the question.
Stage 5 – Conclusion
This should not be a reworking of your entire essay. It should ‘complete’ your argument/essay. It is an opportunity to
bring together your perspective and what theorists, evidence and case studies you have brought together to
construct your perspective and can be a moment where you speculate, from your own intellectual, individual and
emotional engagement on something further. Can you possibly speculate about what the future holds for
audiences/producers?