Essay Planning and Structuring Guidance Introductions begin broad and progress to being specific. They basically Broad/introducing text include: -An introduction to the text ~ including its publication/release details and a short, relevant summary of what itis about. -Add/include any relevant contextual details in your introduction, which J improves your essay in some way, or if itis relation to your thesis and answering | | the question. -A clear thesis statement in answer to the question. It outlines your overall answer/ergument (or ‘response’ It includes the WHAT (the text does) part of your answer, and might include WHY this is done (purpose?) -Introductions also outline, or summarise your main points for analysis (in relation to the thesis you have given). This is the HOW part of your answer. This can help foreground the structure of your essay. * Specific Hint! Sometimes it helps to leave a space for this last part and fill it in once you have finished writing the rest of your essay © Body Paragraphs: A simple body paragraph Your body paragraphs are supposed to develop your main argument/answer —_| structure to follow is to PEA: (thesis). Each body paragraph should make a specific point (P) in support of your ; thesis, that is supported by examples (E) from your text and analysis (A) of these examples in relation to answering the question and the point you are making. At this stage you should have more than one piece of evidence in your body paragraphs (repeat E & A), These can come in the form of paraphrasing or directly quoting the text. Your quotes can be short and you should always contextualise them (at which point in the documentary are you drawing them from?) and they should be embedded into sentences. Remember ~ each piece of evidence you use should be relevant to your point | (You can repeat E & A for more and should be analysed in relation to answering the question. examples) Analysis includes identifying the construction elements (features, style, conventions, etc.) of your evidence and how these work together as ‘building blocks’ for certain overall effects. This is called using metalanguage for analysis Analysis also includes explaining how your evidence links to answering the question and \clude stepping out of the text a bit to talk about ideas and representations (including links to purposes and contexts}. Basically conclusions: Conclusions: -No new points or examples are introduced! -Summarise and reiterate your focus and response. But try not to be too repetitive - you may want to pitch it in light of the argument/observations you have made, and the understanding(s) you have come to -You may want to make some wider observations here in relation to your ‘argument, your analysis of the text and/or author/director and offer any insights, about the text and its relationship with the world and/or you -Have a clear and convincing final statement or comment that supports what you have been talking about throughout your essay.