How To Write A Critical Essay

Posted by admin on 28th November and posted in Essay Writing

How to Write a Critical Essay

Writing a critical essay can seem a daunting task at first, but hopefully after reading this article you will be able to confidently put what you’ve learnt into practise!
- You can find a critical evaluation I did of ‘On the Sidewalk Bleeding’ here. -
The first step in creating a critical essay is to read the text. I don’t mean skim through it picking out good uses of repetition or anything, that comes later, just read it. Read it and think… what is this really about? – Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to plan your essay.
? Step 1:
o Pick out the features and techniques which relate to your essay question, for example, plot is vital when discussing how a character is affected by an event in the text.
o These features include (but are not limited to); plot, character, word choice, repetition, structure, ideas, theme, imagery.
? Step 2:
o Take down notes for each of the features you have chosen; the example below is for my ‘On the Sidewalk Bleeding’ essay.
Repetition:
• ‘Waiting, waiting’
• ‘Ticking, ticking’
• ‘dying’ constantly
• ‘bleeding’ constantly
• ‘pain’ constantly

? Step 3:
o Read over the notes, memorising quotes and revising your themes and ideas for the essay.

? Step 4:
o Write the essay with notes, and time it. You should be spending about 45 minutes on a single essay.
o Look over the essay for any spelling mistakes or unconventional uses of grammar, these mistakes can and will lose you marks in an exam.
o For example; check your to/too/two’s and your there/theirs!

? Step 5:
o Write the essay without notes, and time it. You should again be spending around 45 minutes on a single essay.
o Look over the essay for any spelling mistakes or unconventional uses of grammar, these mistakes can and will lose you marks in an exam.
o For example; check your to/too/twos and your there/theirs!

? Step 6:
o Compare the time and standard of the two essays – hopefully, writing the original essay with notes has given you enough confidence to effectively write the second one without notes and in a similar time scale.

I hope this has helped a bit, if you’re still not sure – you can contact me via e-mail or msn;
Lhayman896@hotmail.com