Essay writing is at the heart of several GCSE subjects from English, Religious Studies and History to Psychology, Geography and Media Studies.
Writing a great timed essay depends on all sorts of skills – skills that you need to have to pass those pesky exams!
Where do you start? What are the hottest skills that make the real difference?
Plan Essay Writing, Don’t Wing it
Some very able students make essay writing look sooo easy. However, it’s important to remember that they’ve have spent years honing their craft.
It’s true what they say: practice makes perfect. But where do you start?
Start with a plan:
- Read the question carefully first as well as any accompanying source
- Jot down some main ideas, perhaps linking your ideas by topic or theme
- If a central idea/argument is needed, perhaps j0t down some key evidence, your key idea for your opening and what your conclusion might entail
- Some students find it helps to outline a structure: paragraph 1,2, 3 etc.
- With English essays, you might need to annotate the extract/poem to help you establish some key pointers before writing
Write a Compelling Essay Introduction
Forget starting with ‘I am writing to….’ Instead, get to the heart of the issue straightaway.
What is the bigger picture? What overriding argument will you be proving? What statement can you make that establishes your view right from the start?
Sneaking context into an opening paragraph can show that you are an authority on the subject too.
Main Body Writing Skills
The ‘body’ of your essay is where you use paragraphs to organise and build your points or arguments.
- To be successful at this, it’s key to use linking phrases to help shape your ideas. You might start with, ‘It is clear that…and then develop your arguments with: furthermore or Moreover. Countering arguments with phrases such as ‘However,’ or ‘Although this is true in some case, it..’ Acknowledging alternative interpretations can be an intelligent way to show off your knowledge
- For key points, build evidence into your answer whether they are facts, anecdotes, precise examples, quotes or evidence to support opinion.
- Avoid waffling by sticking to the point. Read each paragraph as you go along.
- Link paragraphs to give your essay a naturally flowing structure: Additionally, However, this is not always the case. The consequences of this proved to be catastrophic. For example,.. Later on,
PETAL Paragraphs .. the Lowdown
Each subject has its own writing style, obviously. When writing English Literature essays, it can help to use PETAL:
P: Point
E: Evidence
T: Technique
A: Analysis/Analyse
L: Link to another idea/point
Don’t forget to include a memorable conclusion to round off your essay – something that might make the examiner think – something that demonstrates you appreciate the wider picture.
Still Struggling to Smash Essay Skills?
Call our trusty team of experienced tutors who teach across the Manchester and Cheshire area – or anywhere you are online.
That way you needn’t go into battle alone and can iron out any tricky areas from the off.
Easy ways to get in touch with our lead tutor Alison right here.
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Tags: body writing, conclusion, English, essay writing, history, linking phrases, PETAL, timed essays