Notes On How To Revise

Revise all the main themes, characters, plot points using York notes AND think of your open interpretations (as originality is important). If I were you I d write all of these down using bullet points and memorise them. You could also use flashcards.

Look at essay structures from past essays you ve done on the subject, as this might help you prepare if similar questions come up. Make sure you know all the literary terms as well you should have the list in your notes.

Remember the following when it comes essay writing:

Analysis Evidence (quotes) Implications Criticism Evaluation

You won t necessarily be able to include all of the above in your essay, as this is just a general thing. However, you could adapt certain areas of that to suit the question.

You could also use

PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explanation, and Link (link back to the question).

Try and use some of the words from the question in your introduction, so the examiner knows that you ve seen the point of the question.

Also remember the RULE OF THREE that I told you about, try to construct linked lists of three, i.e. main characters, locations, themes etc. these will be really great aids and are very easy to recall.

You need to basically map out where you are going with the question in the introduction. From then on, in each paragraph, build on this as you analyse and develop each point. This means that a solid first paragraph is really essential, and will make the writing of the essay much much easier.

With conclusions you could do the following:

Summarise the main points
Pick up the theme of the introduction
Suggest wider implications
Give your opinions as long as they match the strength of your discussion/argument.

have a look at some past papers and compare how well you do in them.