Ther are lots of different things you will get told and taught to improve your essay.
Use more evidence
Incorporate higher order literary techniques
Develop a stronger thesis
Write more
Do these sound familiar to you? Even though I can’t hear your response, I will take it as a yes. Yes, I have heard these a million times before and each time I write another essay I try to incorporate these elements, but it doesn’t seem to be working.
Hmm, what to do next?
Don’t get me wrong, everything set out above is totally on point. Each of them will assist with your ability to boost your marks and move into a higher band.
But, consider this one element that works above and beyond the above pointers.
Take a step away from the text and into the module
What does that even mean? Agan, I hear you and will answer.
It means to move away from the text, the plot, the characters and the words on the page or the images on the screen.
Instead, move into the module – what is being asked of you? What are the conceptual elements that you are considering? What messages was the composer seeking to communicate? What is the purpose of the text? Why did they create it? What was its impact.
If you start asking yourselves these questions, then the rest will naturally follow because suddenly your use of techniques will be more meaningful as you have a conceptual idea you are wanting to explore. Then follows a domino effect – you will have more to write about because you have a clear idea of the argument you are developing and using to support your thesis.
So next time you are tackling your essay, take a moment to step away from the text and move into the module. The one point that will help with all of the points.
Have a go at doing this and let us know how you progress