(Year 9 +)
The structure is as follows:
T-Topic Sentence
E- Explanation
E- Evidence and examples
L- Links back to your main idea and set question.
Subsequent Paragraphs (linked to the same Topic Sentence)
E- 2nd example and evidence
L- links back to the main idea and set question
Each time you look at a new scene or character from the text, begin a new paragraph. You do not need to re-write the topic sentence every time.
A new Idea/ Theme will need a new "Topic sentence and Explanation" paragraph.
In your 'T E', use the composer (author/director/poet/playwright) as your main focus. Instead of re-telling the events from the character's perspective, eg:
"When Romeo goes to Friar Lawrence, he is angry and upset. Friar Lawrence then talks to him to try and calm him down. Romeo then leaves feeling more hopeful..."
INSTEAD, you should focus on the purpose of the action, eg:
'Through Friar Lawrence's attempts to reason with and calm Romeo, Shakespeare is conveying the idea that even when all seems lost, there is still hope, if only we can control our emotions and look rationally at the situation."
A response could follow the following structure:
T- Topic Sentence - introduce the main theme/ idea you are going to discuss
E- Explanation- discuss in more detail what the text is saying about this idea- who shows it?, what does it teach the reader? What/who is the composer using to show these ideas etc
(4-6 sentences)
New Paragraph (1st example)
E- Evidence- examine a key scene or character from the text that supports your argument. Look at 2-3 techniques that work to convey this idea. Discuss the impact of these techniques on the message of the text.
L- Link- connect the impact of these examples and techniques on the question and main idea you are discussing.
(4-6 sentences)
E- Evidence- examine another key scene or character from the text that supports your argument. Look at 2-3 techniques that work to convey this idea. Discuss the impact of these techniques on the message of the text.
L- Link- connect the impact of these examples and techniques on the question and main idea you are discussing.
(4-6 sentences)
Repeat this TE-EL structure each time you discuss a new idea/theme and have more than one example to support it.