What's the best way to use critical material in an essay?

Being able to use critical material well shows the examiner two things: that you have read extensively and are aware of debates related to your author and their context; and that you are able to respond critically to the opinions of others. It is important to understand the overarching argument being made by the critic, and not just about singling out individual quotes. You need to be able to contextualise quotes, and to do this you might like to add an introductory sentence before introducing a critical quote in your essay. For example: 'writing within the literary context of postmodernism, X critic advocates for a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between gender and power'. [Followed by quote]. Once you have introduced the quote, you need to respond to it analytically. The examiner wants to hear your voice; the critic should just be there to help you make a point. It doesn't matter if you agree or disagree with the critic, you need to respond to what they have said. You could also partially agree; for example, 'while X critic does recognise the complexities inherent in these power dynamics, her analysis nonetheless needs some qualification'. At A Level, each paragraph should, ideally, contain a critical quote. This could also be a passing reference, for example: 'Many critics have challenged binary notions of gender (Butler 1990; Wittig 1980)'. It could also be in relation to a quote which you yourself have taken in the primary text, for example: 'X character's breakdown of identity here becomes more complex when viewed in light of the arguments made by X critic'. Never end a paragraph on a quote!