(5/3) Anatomy Of an Essay: (Comparative)

The following post outlines exactly what you need to do, what you will be provided with and how you should do it, when writing a comparative essay.

The Key Terms:

The Prompt: the prompt is like an SAQ, it provides guidance and focus as you write your essay and assists you in constructing a consistent and well ordered response. Unlike the SAQ however it does not require an argument. When responding to a prompt you are exploring the topic, rather than making an opinion. you are NOT required to take a side, you need to 'unpack' the prompt and explore the different elements and aspects of the prompt and how it relates to the provided texts. Your discussion throughout your essay must at all times relate to the prompt.

The Extracts: In the assessment you will be provided with one section from each of the two studied texts. The idea of the extracts are to focus your response and ensure you are keeping on track in a centred way. The extracts also allow you to demonstrate your analytic and skills and your ability to apply your comprehension skills in a comparative manner. You need to be able to closely analyse the provided extracts and be able to provide connections between the extracts and the prompts.

The Texts: In all comparative units you will be provided with two texts, these texts will be linked thematically and will usually differ stylistically. In year 10 these texts are 'The Happiest Refugee' and 'The Boat.' It is vitally important that you have a holistic understanding of both texts and are able to demonstrate a complete thematic understanding of the texts as a whole and place the provided extracts in context. Part of the assessment criteria is to demonstrate 'a holistic understanding of the two primary texts' this is why in each body paragraph you must make one connection/idea between the text as a whole and the prompt/contention.

A Comparative Writing Checklist:

The following is a paragraph by paragraph checklist of what you need to do when completing a comparative essay.

Introduction

1. Outline your understanding of the prompt, what do the key words and what do they mean to you.
2. Outline your thesis
3. Reference both texts and their styles
4. Outline three ideas (1. How text 1 relates to prompt. 2. How text 2 relates to prompt 3. how they relate to prompt in different or similar ways

Body Paragraph 1

1. Outline how text 1 relates to the prompt
2. Describe a connection between text 1 extract and the prompt
3. Describe a holistic connection between text 1 and the prompt
4. Analyse how both your connections relate to your thesis 

Body Paragraph 2

1. Outline how text 2 relates to the prompt
2. Describe a connection between text 2 extract and the prompt
3. Describe a holistic connection between text 2 and the prompt
4. Analyse how both your connections relate to your thesis 

Body Paragraph 3

1. Outline a thematic or stylistic difference or similarity between the texts
2. Elaborate with evidence for text 1
3. Elaborate with evidence for text 2
4. Analyse how both texts relate to the thesis in different or similar ways

Conclusion