Practice Question for Weekend

If you would like to have a go at writing a practice essay this weekend, try the following question:

 Discuss the importance of social class in the novel, especially as it impacts the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy.

Remember to plan before you start writing the essay.

If you do not feel that you are ready to write a full essay, at least take the time to make some notes about this particular element of the novel. Find some quotations that may be useful for this type of question and consider how Austen positions the audience to view this issue as it relates to these two characters.

Essay Writing 101

Essay writing notes

Step 1: Read the question. Don’t start writing.
Step 2: Highlight and underline key points in the question
Step 3: Reword the question in a way you can understand it (e.g.; this question is asking me to ___)
Step 4: Brainstorming/mind mapping/listing ideas (only spend 5 minutes on this)
Step 5: Think of your thesis statement (your argument that links all your paragraphs together – opening statement that sets up your argument)
Step 6: Work out what your topic sentences will be for each of your main paragraphs (make sure they connect to your thesis statement)Step 7: Work out what evidence you want to use for each of your main body paragraphs
Step 8: Figure out how each of your quotations relate to your points and link back to your thesis statement – is it clear? Is it addressing the essay question? (synthesising your quotations)
Step 9: Think about the positioning techniques Jane Austen is using and how they fit into your body paragraphs (Irony, language choices, charaterisation)
Step 10: Plan your closing sentences for each of your paragraphs (optional)Step 11: begin writing your essay

Essay structure

Introduction:

·         Thesis statement (must answer the essay question)

·         Context of the novel (optional – make sure your thesis statement is first)

·         Introduce your main points (look at the criteria sheet to see what its actually asking you to do. Don’t go into detail about the main points, this is what your body paragraphs do)

·         Do not introduce quotations in your introduction – they are not useful

Body paragraphs

·         Topic sentence (make sure it links back to the thesis and introduce what your main body paragraph is going to be about – avoid waffling)

·         Expand on what you’ve stated in your topic sentence. Go into more detail about what this paragraph will address. Provide evidence to support your claims. Evaluate (explain/synethsise) the relevance of your evidence. Why is your evidence useful to your argument? This will help you discuss the positioning techniques (e.g. the audience is able to understand this point through Jane Austen’s Irony throughout the novel). The more depth/detail you have in your discussion is better. You are not re-telling the story, you are engaging with the text and analysing it.

·         Closing statement/linking statement that will close off the main point of that particular paragraph and has a deliberate lead into the next paragraph. Having a linking statement is optional; however a closing statement is necessary.

Conclusion

·         Requires you to re-visit your thesis statement (try and find another way to rephrase but if you can’t re-state it)

·         Re-address your key points – find a way to bring closure to them and links them all together. Draw on the parallels between your three/four main points.

·         Write a final statement that draws a final conclusion about what you’ve been discussing

·         Leaves your reader thinking about what they’ve just read

·         Try not to end with a question

Rules

·         Do not introduce a new point in a conclusion/ideas/evidence

·         Do not speak in first or second person (I, we, us, you etc.)

·         Write in present tense for an analytical essay as you are engaging directly with the text at that point in time. You are writing it as if you are there. (e.g. when Lizzie Visits ___)

·         Make you put the page numbers down when you use a direct quotation “___” (p.3)

·         Try not to use long quotations – paraphrase “…but she is not handsome enough to tempt me”

·         Integrate your evidence

·         Don’t re-word what the quote is stating – analyse it and explain why it is useful to your argument

·         Avoid sweeping statements – be careful how you word your argument

·         Avoid value judgment e.g. Darcy is a horrible person for what he did to Lizzie. You are allowed to say the audience is positioned to see Darcy in a negative light.  

·         An analytical essay is formal and not personal

·         Use formal phrasing such as, “Jane Austen positions…” “The audience is positioned to…”

·         Proof-read and edit at the end – leave enough time for this

·         10-15 minutes to plan, 1 hour to write it, 15 minutes to proof read

Speech Prep - Notes from class today

 

Image taken from Google images on 07/08/12

Here are the notes that we took on the board today regarding the techniques that you may need to consider when discussing your poem, alongside the persuasive techniques that you should be considering. 

Poetic Techniques (remember, some of these techniques are not necessarily poetry techniques but they are literary tools that your poets may be using within the poems you have chosen):

* Inclusive language

* Metaphors

* Similes

* Hyperbole

* Imagery

* Personification

* Alliteration

* Assonance

* Rhyme

* Rhythm

* Binary Opposition

* Juxtaposition

* Repetition 

* Characters

* Narrative within the poem

* Dialogue

* Perspective

* Voice

* First, second or third person

As you identify these techniques within your chosen poem, you should be aiming to discuss how/why a specific technique contributes to your understanding of the poem. Ultimately, you are using the discussion of this techniques to help synthesise your evidence when you are addressing the various elements of the task.

Persuasive techniques:

Second person

Collective first person

Inclusive language

Rhetorical questions

Hyperbole

Emotional language

Personal anecdotes

Vocal features

Non-verbal features (this includes your PowerPoint)

Repetition

Humour

Statistics

You should be utilising a variety of these (as suited to your purpose) throughout the speech. Don't just leave them for the intro and conclusion.

Structure (this is only a suggestion - feel free to adapt your own style):

* Introduction needs to launch your speech. You should have a central idea (like a thesis statement) to work from. Think about what the key element of the task is to help you decide upon an overall focal point. Keep in mind, your intro is also your first opportunity to persuade and engage your audience, i.e. us.

* Your intro must introduce us to your poet and poem, you should also be able to give an indication of which era it comes from. This is a good way to lead into the fact that even though we are reading it many years later, the poem still connects with us because we still share many of the same values, attitudes, ideas, etc. that affected the Romantic and/or Victorian eras.

* Main body can follow any form you like (so long as it makes sense) but you must ensure that you address each of the questions that are included on the task sheet. The easiest way to do this will be to construct paragraphs based on these questions - the order they are in on the task sheet will also provide you with a logical progression in your argument.

* Make sure you continue to persuade and engage us throughout the main body paragraphs and that you consistently link back to the focal point of the argument that you established in the intro.

* The conclusion needs to wrap up your argument. Leave us with something to think about.

* Ensure that we are completely convinced by what you have had to say and make sure that you don't bring in any new information.

Planning your speech

Step 1: Choose your poem.

Step 2: Justify your choice.

Step 3: Get approval from Mrs Damen (this includes e-mailing your poem, poet and justification)

Step 4: Complete the critical reading poem - annotating as your go. This will require you to print your poem.

Step 5: Complete a SPECS and SLIMS analysis - as a set of notes.

Step 6: Plan your speech - in as much detail as possible. Include notes about evidence, synthesis and          persuasive techniques in your planning.

Step 7: Begin drafting your speech - this includes your PowerPoint!

Step 8: Once a draft is complete, proof-read and edit.

Step 9: Have someone read it aloud to you so that you can hear mistakes.

Step 10: Edit again.

Step 11: Have someone peer edit for you (repeat as needed)

Step 12: Conference with Mrs Damen

Step 13: Edit based on conferencing.

Step 14: Practise your speech as much as possible. In front of an audience and by yourself.