How to write essays the examiner will love reading
How to write essays the examiner will love reading
What makes an examiner go "wow this kid deserves an A"?
Hi there,
I already have articles covering essay structure in depth, but today I want to give your teen essay structure tips from the point of view of the person marking their essays, i.e. their teacher of an examiner.
A good essay is not just about its content. Without structure and presentation, good content is in some ways pointless.
A good essay has structure that pulls the reader in and guides them to the end without struggle or confusion.
So, how do we make sure your teen is writing essays that don’t fill the examiner with dread?
The key components of essay writing
First let’s look at what you could say are the three broad steps for writing a high school essay:
Reading / watching the book / film / whatever you need to write an essay on;
Considering the themes/characters/setting or whatever aspect of the media you are likely to be asked essay questions on; and
Thinking about what structure and presentation of the substantive content is going to present your arguments and ideas in the most appealing way to your essay’s reader (ie, the person marking it!).
Number 3 is the part I am focusing on today.
Even if your teen has a good understanding of the book/film they have studied, if their essay is convoluted, or the paragraphs don’t flow in a logical order, the examiner will have no choice but to mark them down.
How does your teen ensure their essay has structure?
One word: S.E.X.I.
S = Statement (sometimes known as a ‘topic sentence’)
E = Explanation
X = eXample
I = Importance
These four letters will give your teen’s essays the structure they need every time. Here’s the deal:
Statement:
Every paragraph of your teen’s essays should start with a one-sentence statement that tells the reader what the paragraph is going to be about. For example, let’s say your teen is writing an essay on 1984:
The use of language by ‘Big Brother’ in Nineteen Eighty-Four is an important manifestation of the regime’s oppressive governance.
Explanation:
This is the bulk of each paragraph. Back to our 1984 example, for a high school essay it would be three to five sentences that explain why the use of language by ‘Big Brother’ in Nineteen Eighty-Four is an important manifestation of the regime’s oppressive governance. The bulk of marks earned will come from the explanations your teen provides.
Example:
Your teen can’t make asserts in their essays without justification to back up what they’re saying. In other words, they need to provide ‘proof’. You have to qualify the statements you make. A great essay will back up each explanation with at least one example that illustrates or proves the point being made.
Importance:
This is the part of your teen’s essays that will take them from an okay grade to a I’m-so-happy-I’m-going-to-do-a-cartwheel-grade.
A great essay doesn’t just regurgitate facts and observations that anyone who has read the book or watched the movie would already know.
A great essay will also provide the reader with an insight or a connection. It will demonstrate critical thought and show that you have really thought about and understand the book/film.
Try and help your teen get in the habit of using the last one or two sentences of each paragraph to demonstrate that they have understood something deeper about the book/ film.
How does your teen ensure their essays are presented effectively?
Using the SEXI structure is basically going to ensure your teen’s essays have good structure AND presentation. But, there are a few other aspects to an essay with good structure that’s easy to read:
Paragraph order: Your teen needs to think about what order the paragraphs of their essay should be in. What order is going to make the essay read in the most logical and effortless manner?
Sentence structure: They also need to be mindful about the structure of their sentences. I suggest that when your teen is writing practice essays that they read their essay out loud to themselves (and / or to you). Does it make sense? Or do they get lost and go off on random tangents mid-sentence?
Handwriting: Finally, I know it’s hard, especially in the last half hour of an exam when you’re rapidly running out of time, to write neatly. But for the sake of precious marks, I urge your teen to write as neatly as they can. Don’t give your examiner a headache by trying to decipher a cryptic code. Help them like your essay and give them something they can read easily.
Once again the techniques looked at here are super simple! Knowing how to study is something all students are capable of learning.
I’d love to hear how your teen is getting on with their essay writing in the comments below. With so many parents going through the same thing we can all help each other out.
Thanks so much for reading.
Clare