Yr 9 How to Study Literature and How to Write an Essay

Yr 9How to Study Literature and How to Write an Essay

Do what Mrs Mac tells you to do and youll learn the trick to writing a good essay. Itll be as easy as pulling a rabbit out of a hat.What does text mean?It is the general name we use for the different types of literature that you read and study.Name the kinds of literature which are represented by each of the pictures alongside.NovelPoetryPlayFilmWhich one is missing?Short Story

My love is like a red, red rose When we study literature, we look at FOUR main features of the text.What do you think they are?

This is the most obvious thing so what is it?It is the events that occur and the order in which they happen. When you write an essay, please DO NOT re-tell the plot.Plot

Is setting always important?No, not always. But most of the time it is helpful to examine where the author chose to set the text.Setting

Questions to ask about SettingWhere is the text set? (e.g rural, city, culture, country)What is the cultural setting? (e.g religion, race, gender, class)When is the text set? (e.g future, present, past)Which quotes reveal time and place?Is there more than one setting? If yes, are they contrasted?Does the setting (e.g extreme isolation) influence the characters actions in any way?Does it create mood?

When we study literature, we look at FOUR main features of the text.What have we just looked at?

Whats the next feature?

SettingCharacterWhy are characters important to study in literature?It is through them that we learn things about life.What is the term used in literature to refer to the central character (hero)?ProtagonistWho opposes the protagonist?AntagonistCharacter

Choose a main character in your text and ask these questions.What do they look like? (gender, hair colour, clothing, dress, distinguishing features)What is their personality like? ( e.g cheerful, envious, lonely, sad, resourceful, scared)How do they speak? (How they say things can be a key to who they are, for example colloquial language = easygoing; aggressive language = difficult, nasty)How do they behave? (people are judged by their actions.)What problems do they encounter? (with people, themselves and the environment)How do they deal with conflict/problems? (Do they cope well? Why/why not?)We see the of the text through a characters and we share or her experiences. We understand what happens, howare feeling, what things look, , & feel like through what the or tells us about characters.

Complete this information about character by replacing the picture with a word.

10Choose a main character in your text and ask these questions.How do they interact and act towards other characters? (Who do they feel comfortable with? If they are aggressive, why?)Do they change in any way? (Appearance, actions, attitudes) Why? (What happened to bring about the change? An event? Action from someone else?)How does this character help develop the themes of the text?How is this character a role model for us? (What can we learn from them/ their action and attitudes.)

When we study literature, we look at FOUR main features of the text.What have we just looked at?

Whats the next feature?

CharacterTheme

ThemeEvery work of literature is always more than just a story. It has an underlying message as well, where the author shares an idea or opinion. (Sometimes there are several themes.)A good way to identify a theme

Ask: what does the protagonist learn in the course of the story?

A good way to identify a theme

Turn to a partner & identify a theme Answer: what does the protagonist learn in the course of the story?

FROMSometimes a theme can be good advice

For example: take care of those who are too young or vulnerable to take care of themselves.Sometimes a theme can be good advice

What could this advice be?Admit your mistakes. Apologise sincerely.Sometimes a theme can be a warning

For example: we need to care for animals, especially endangered ones, otherwise the species could die out.Sometimes a theme can be a warning

What warning about lightning could we need to remember?Some forces of nature, like lightning, are powerful and dangerous, so take shelter indoors.Sometimes a theme can be a prophecy

For example: technology will one day control humans.http://www.surmall.com/blog/20-awesomest-cctv-gifs-caught-cctv-cameras-2/1827/

Sometimes a theme can be a prophecyWhat could this prophecy be?There is other life in the universe.

Sometimes a theme shows how human behaviour affects others

For example: sibling rivalry undermines familiesSometimes a theme shows how human behaviour affects othersHow could our behaviour or attitude about race have an effect on others?We could have racial stereotypes.

Ask these questions to explore themeWhat is this text saying to me? (note, subject is different to message)What do I see as the strengths of this text?What have I learnt from this text?

How to write a literature essayEASY AS 1 2 3What is a literature essay?It is where you write about a particular aspect of a text to show your knowledge and understanding of this aspect and why it is important or interesting.

Q: Whats the first step? A: Choosing your question.

Choosing your question

Its the ideas(themes) in the film Stand by Me that stand out for me. Facing challenges bravely is one idea I noticed in the film because its brave of the boys to look for the dead body, but each of them also has a personal challenge to cope with bravely .So Ill choose the essay question on themes and use Coping with challenges bravely as my theme..

Choosing your question

So Ill choose the essay question on character and look at the way that culture clash make Jess interesting.

Its the characters in the film Bend it Like Beckham that stand out for me. The conflict in the film between Jess and her family occurs because shes passionate about football, but they want her to be a traditional Indian girl. Questions1. Describe an important scene in your text. Explain, in detail, why it was important.2. Describe an interesting theme or main idea that you learnt about in one of the texts you have studied in class. Explain why you think this idea is important to you as a Year 9 student. 3. Describe a character in a text you have studied this year. Explain why you thought the character was interesting.

How do we begin? All essays start with an introduction and a tako

Paragraph 1 - Introduction: T.A.K.O. T.A.K.O. Use this acronym to remember to include the necessary information in the introduction: Title (MUST be underlined), Author/Director, Key words from question, Outline of essays points

TAKOExample of introductionLets highlight the TAKO informationIn the film Stand by Me, directed by Rob Reiner, an interesting theme is how brave Chris, Gordy and Teddy are, in the way that they confront challenges. The boys leave the safety of their homes in Castle Rock, to find the dead body of Ray Brower. Their reaction to death, the obstacles they face on their journey, and the challenges revealed about their lives, shows that they are truly courageous. Although this film was set in the 60s, it still delivers a message to todays teenager, as it shows us how to be valiant and heroic when were tested.Example of introductionLets highlight the TAKO informationIn the film Bend it like Beckham, directed by Gurinder Chadha, an interesting character is Jess Bhamra. Jess family expect her to be a traditional Indian girl but as a modern girl in the UK, her expectations of life are different. She wants to play football, but this clashes with her culture, so through props, costume, camerawork and dialogue, the film shows how Jess creates her own identity where she blends the old and new cultures together. Body ParagraphsThe body of the essay is divided into p...There should be at least ... body paragraphs. With an Introduction and a Conclusion paragraph, and the three body paragraphs, the essay should contain a total of at least . paragraphs.My EssayIntroductionBody Para (1)Body Para (2)Body Para (3) 5. Conclusion

How to structure each paragraphS tatement/ Topic Sentence Tell the audience what topic or idea the paragraph will be about. This is a simple sentence that states the idea.E xplanation Explain to the reader of the essay exactly what is meant in the statement.E xample support the explanation with an example, e.g quote, detail from the text

Body Paragraph structure the possibilities

SEE or SEXYSEE or S.E.X.Y? What the difference?Theres no real difference. SEXY is a mnemonic to remember each part of a body paragraph for a literature essay. It has one extra part to it, so it is more complex than SEE.

S:the Statement at the start of the paragraph that says what point this paragraph is making or focusing on.E:the Explanation that explains how this statement is relevant to the text or the question.X:the eXamples from the text that support your statement and develop your point.Y:explain whY this point is relevant to the question.

Chris Chambers, the leader of the group of boys, was brave. The director uses an over-the-shoulder shot of an oncoming train moving towards Chris as he wrestles with Teddy, to show his courage in rescuing Teddy from death or injury. His dialogue when he stands up to Ace and his gang (when they try to take Ray Browers dead body) confirms Chris bravery. He tells Ace, Youre going to have to kill me first! These incidents show that Chris is not afraid to take risks to help his friends, and stand up for what he thinks is right. Chris comes from a family of criminals, but he chooses to behave differently which teaches year 9 viewers that they can make good choices, and confront challenges bravely, just like Chris did. Example of a Body Paragraph

Jess parents believe they have a responsibility to teach her to be a good Indian girl, who will later become a good wife. Through the use of dialogue and costume, the director shows the Bhamras expectations of Jess to dress, and behave, in a traditional way, which comes from their Indian culture and customs. A close up of Jess mums shocked face, is used as a reaction shot when she sees Jess playing football in the park in shorts. Jess modern costume signals that Jess is becoming independent, but this puts her into conflict with her mum who considers it unacceptable for her daughter to dress like this, and her dialogue reinforces this when she scolds Jess saying: You shouldnt be running around showing your bare legs. Example of a Body Paragraph

Do do Does

Dont do DontsFilm Essay Dos and Donts

Jess modern costume signals that Jess is becoming independent, but this puts her into conflict with her mum who considers it unacceptable for her daughter to dress like this, and her dialogue reinforces this when she scolds Jess saying: You shouldnt be running around showing your bare legs. Do use a film technique in every paragraphIts not just she said its DIALOGUE.Its not her clothes, its COSTUME.Its not just a gun, its a PROP.Do use the correct film terminology

Do do Does

Dont do DontsLiterature Essay Dos and Donts

This can be done in two ways either in a separate paragraph or in each paragraph.Read the two paragraphs again. Which answers the second part of the question in the paragraph itself?Do answer the second part of the question

An essay has to be a response to the question given. You may not cross out words, add words or re-write the question.

Dont change the question

An essay response should use present tense verbs. What you are saying is true and stays true always, so that is why it is not written in the past tense. For example, if jumping over the skipping rope shows that the girl is athletic, then say: She is athletic. Dont say She was athletic.

Dont write in the past tense

Therell be a 3rd Body Para

No matter what the question, always ask : How can I apply what the text is saying, to myself? Be sure to include a response to this question in the third or fourth body paragraph.Conclude the essay by writing about why you care about the topic (even if you dont you have to pretend you do! )

DO NOT INTRODUCE ANY NEW INFORMATION INTO THE CONCLUSION.

Use this sentence as a starter in your conclusion if you are stuck. An examination of these (name what your essay has examined) is important because .(state why you think it is important).

Conclusion

Now its your turn.

Write an essay using the structure you have been given. First of all, though, well practise by doing some essays together and using some essay templates.

Describe an interesting theme or main idea that you learnt about in one of the texts you have studied in class. Explain why you think this idea is important to you as a Year 9 student. SBM3. Describe a character in a text you have studied this year. Explain why you thought the character was interesting. BLBWrite your own essay. Use the TAKO introduction and body paragraph you were given, if you want help to get started.