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How should I approach analysing an unseen poem in an exam?

Having to write a whole essay on a poem you've never seen before can seem daunting, particularly as you only have five to ten minutes to read and understand it as well as planning your answer. However, the f...
EC
4082 Views

When I write comparative essays, I have the tendency to talk about one text more than the other which restricts my marks. What can I do to make sure I address both texts equally and make a strong comparison?

When writing a comparative essay, it can be tempting to favour the less challenging of the texts and try and discard the one that we have less to say about. This is an easy mistake to make but for most exam ...
FD
3883 Views

When should I use other scholars' literary criticism in my essays and how should I go about it?

It is essential to explore the ideas and opinions of others in addition to your own when analysing texts. Regardless of intended audience, the vast majority of literature you come across will have been read ...
JW
4360 Views

How can I structure my exam answers better when writing about an unseen passage?

In the mark scheme at English A level, there is often reference to 'form' (e.g. context, letters vs novels), 'structure' (the order in which ideas emerge in the passage) and 'language' (the use of specific w...
CD
4565 Views

How do I write a good conclusion to my essay?

Writing a good conclusion is one of the hardest parts of an essay. Remember that the conclusion is the last impression you give an examiner, so it's very worth putting in extra effort and thought, even under...
FM
4432 Views