Summary English Guide- How to write and structure essays

How to: English Pieces

1) Text Response (pg 2)
2) Context (pg 3)
3) Persuasive Essay (pg 4-6)
4) Language Analysis (pg 7-10)


1) Text Response

INTRODUCTION
 - Overview sentence: name/author of text, context of text (main
idea of the prompt)
 - Contention sentence: Overall opinion on the prompt and your
main idea about its truth or
accuracy.
 - Signposting sentences: outline what your 3-4 paragraphs will
discuss. You can use
linking words/ phrases between these sentences, such as ‘consequently,’
‘thus,’ ‘however’ and ‘ultimately.’
BODY PARAGRAPHS (x3-4)
 - Topic sentence: short, clear argument proving why your
contention is true
 - Explanation/evidence (3-5 sentences): use quotes, examples of
events, imagery, symbols,
info on characters, messages on themes, author’s values, etc. to give
evidence from the text on how we know your topic sentence is true.
Include your interpretation of the text, and use examples from all
throughout the text to show your synthesis skills.
 - Linking sentence: short, clear sentence linking your argument
back to the overall contention
CONCLUSION
 - Sentence restating contention in different words
 - 1-2 sentences linking your contention back to the overall context
of the text and why it is
important in terms of overall themes
EMBEDDING QUOTES INTO YOUR ESSAY
 - Ensure quotes are no more than 6 words long.
 - Only quote the important phrases or words of a sentence, not the
whole sentence.
 - Explain the meaning and significance behind your quote - what
themes it links to, what it
says about the character, how it’s relevant to the author’s views and
values, etc.
- EG: From the play’s exposition, Romeo and Juliet are declared “star
cross’d lovers” who are never destined to be together, demonstrating the
importance of fate to Elizabethan audiences.
2) Context
KEY POINTS

,  - Firstly, choose whether you want to write a creative, persuasive,
or expository piece, or a
combination of these. A persuasive piece is most restrictive in terms of
structure, followed by expository and then creative - which gives you the
freedom to determine the structure.
 - Secondly, do some research to choose a topic to write about that
interests you that relates to both your context (Whose Reality,
Identity and Belonging, Encountering Conflict, Imaginative
Landscape) and class text.
 - You do not need to address the class text directly (you can if you
want!) - you just have to include some of the same ideas and
themes in your piece.
 - If you cover enough of the ideas of your context in your writing,
then your piece will fit to most prompts and you won’t have to adapt
it much in the SAC/exam.
 - When adapting your piece to prompts, it is important to include
your contention (whether you agree/disagree/partially agree to the
prompt) in both your intro and conclusion and then ideas in
paragraphs, or if you are writing creative - then integrated
throughout your piece.
 - When attempting to memorise your piece, it is helpful to
remember your main ideas and what each paragraph is about rather
than rote learning your essay word-for-word.

3) Persuasive Essay

INTRODUCTION
 - Context of topic/introductory info
 - Contention
 - Signpost arguments
BODY PARAGRAPH (x3-4)
 - Topic sentence on argument
 - Evidence/example 1
 - Evidence/example 2
 - Evidence/example 3
 - Evidence/example 4
 - Linking sentence back to contention
CONCLUSION
 - Restate contention
 - Relevance to overall topic
 - Relate to real life/what action needs to be taken/things to consider
KEY POINTS
 - Each dot point of the template is one-three sentences.
 - Your contention for a persuasive essay needs to be specific,
clear, and succinct - one to
two sentences maximum. EG: “It is evident that the government needs to
take further action to address homelessness in Australia.” is a good, clear
contention that shows who you will be talking about (the government),
what the issue is (homelessness) and the scope of reference (in Australia).