Essay Planning

Every essay should be carefully planned in order to ensure that you have included all the necessary parts and answered the question fully. Your essay should contain the following:

• INTRODUCTION- Include the question and state your thesis. Name and reference any texts you are including - Composer name, date, text type, full title. Outline the main argument you are going to explore.

• BODY- this is made up of a series of TEEL paragraphs, or TE-EL arguments that examine aspects of the texts you are analysing. It should be at least 3 paragraphs long. These paragraphs will have examples, quotes, and techniques that support your ideas.

• CONCLUSION- restate your thesis and sum up your ideas.

Writing TEEL and TE-EL paragraphs HERE

A thesis is your main argument. It is your answer to the question asked. It is made up of a number of ideas/ reasons why you agree/ disagree with the essay question. Your whole essay should connect to these ideas, as you build up evidence to support your response.

When you write a thesis, it needs to:

• Use clear, straight forward language that is precise and specific.

• contain 2 or 3 main ideas that can be explored throughout your essay (these are the TE's of your paragraphs)

• USE YOUR TOPIC SENTENCES FROM YOUR TE PARAGRAPHS TO WRITE YOUR THESIS!

• connect directly to the question- it is what follows after the question ie. "Great novels aim to teach us about ourselves and our world. This is true for the novel "xxxxxxx" because (INSERT THESIS HERE). " You may use words similar to 'BECAUSE' such as:

through

by

• Your thesis should follow this formula :

QUESTION + BECAUSE + TOPIC SENTENCES = THESIS

• Your thesis should include the main themes/ ideas/ concerns of the text you have studied and how they connect to the question you have been asked.

• The points in your thesis will become your topic sentences later in the essay

• Do not use words you can not define or understand

• Avoid using the thesaurus as a way to elevate your ideas- words are often used in the wrong context.

• Use Formal Language, be direct and concise. Check out Formal Language rules HERE

• AVOID NOMINALISATIONS!!!!!