This document provides guidance on essay writing in three areas: assessment objectives, creating an effective argument, and style points. It outlines four assessment objectives including demonstrating critical understanding, exploring connections between texts, and understanding historical context. It also discusses key elements of an effective argument such as a clear thesis statement, focused introduction, well-organized paragraphs with topic sentences, and a concluding paragraph. Finally, it offers tips for writing style such as embedding quotes, referring to authors by last name, using italics for titles, and being specific rather than vague.

1. ESSAY WRITING
AS English Literature

2. Assessment Objectives
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AO1: Articulate creative, informed and relevant responses to
literary texts, using appropriate terminology and concepts,
and coherent, accurate written expression
AO2: Demonstrate detailed critical understanding in
analysing the ways in which form, structure and language
shape meanings in literary texts
AO3: Explore connections and comparisons between
different literary texts, informed by interpretations of other
readers
AO4: Demonstrate understanding of the significance and
influence of the contexts in which literary texts are written
and received

3. Creating an effective argument
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Thesis statement
Focused introduction
Well organised paragraphs, opening with a topic
sentence, providing evidence to support points, and
analysis that shows development of ideas
Insightful conclusion

4. Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is a sentence that neatly
encapsulates the argument you will be proposing.
If you were to answer an essay question with a single
sentence, that would be your thesis statement.
A good thesis statement shows your point of view in a
succinct, precise, interesting and confident way. You
would go on to prove this in your essay.
A thesis statement should be the focal point of your
introduction.

5. Introductions
Introductions should contain:
 A thesis statement – which can be in two parts
 Specific but brief reference to the text/s being
discussed
 Reference to the writer/s
Introductions should not contain:
 Writers’ first names
 “In this essay, I am going to…”

6. A comparative thesis introduction…
Writers
Thesis
(1)
Brief
but
precise
ref to
texts
Thesis
(2)
Bronte, Shakespeare and McEwan present desire as a
destructive force mostly because of the tendency of the
characters to act irrationally and impulsively on it,
ultimately leading to disaster. In Othello and Wuthering
Heights, desire leads to possessiveness, and jealousy
ultimately destroys Cathy and Heathcliff’s relationship,
whereas Othello’s jealousy leads him to murder
Desdemona. Desire destroys Robbie and Cecilia in
Atonement because they act impulsively on it and
Briony misinterprets their acts of passion as an attack
on her sister. In addition to this, desire is presented as
unpredictable; the characters within these texts fall for
someone who is unsuitable for them in the society they
live in.

7. Topic sentences
Topic sentences should open each main-body
paragraph. They should clearly state the argument
point of the paragraph. Like your thesis statement,
topic sentences should be succinct and confident.
The rest of the paragraph proves the point made in
the topic sentence, using quotations neatly, and
exploring ideas in greater detail.

8. Style points
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Written accuracy – spelling, punctuation and grammar
Embed your quotations where possible, ensuring that
your sentences make complete sense
Refer to author by last name only
Use italics for the title of the text – it’s OK to
abbreviate the full title to Gatsby. Using italics makes it
clear that you mean the title, not the character.
Avoid good/bad, positive/negative or other empty
words and phrases
Be specific – don’t be vague
Refer to events of the text/s in the present tense

9. Style points (continued)
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Don’t indent paragraphs
Leave a line between paragraphs instead
‘Justify’ to create clean left and right margins
Don’t use exotic or weird fonts!
Acknowledge any sources with references
Always include a word count at the end of your
work
Be concise