Writing Essays

If writing about characters, split it into 3-4 different theme, such as if writing about crooks, you split it into 4 themes:

• Prejudices,

• Lonliness

• American dreams

• Failures

If the essay about themes, then you will write about characters, such as if writing about the theme dreams, you spilt it into r different character:

• Crooks

• Curley’s wife

• Geroge and Lennie

• Candy

Then conclude it with a conclsuion with the conclusion stating why steinbeck included this theme or character, what is steinbeck trying to express

3x 1-2-1 Method, most of the mark came from the context of the extract.

• 1 = Knowledge (AO1)

• 2 = 1930s Context (AO4)

• 1 = Knowledge of the question (AO1)

• Always use quotation during AO1 as it tells the examiner you understand the character. Try to use as much embedded quotes as possible

• AO1 - Opens with some of the ways the character/themes is presented in the text, include quotations and be specific

• AO4 - This is where you put most of the information - context. How would the character/theme been perceived in 1930s? What kind of treatment might be suffered? Any quotes demonstrates that?

• AO1 - Finish with a further quiet and a bit of knowledge that demonstrates you understands the character. How does the book reflect the time period

Example: [Curley’s wife or dream essay]

In the novella, Curley’s wife has a dream of becominh a Hollywood movie star by being in the “pictures”, she does this specifically because she is being isolated by Curley and wants attention [AO1]

In the 1930s, if was the Golden age of Hollywood which mean it was popular and offered people an escape from their terrible and desperate lives. Women who were often misread, sometime aspired to be movie start and gain the attention they craved. Just like Curley’s wife, many women suffered mistreatment at the hand of their husbands. [AO4]

This means that her dream only offered her false hope liken,any other women back then. She gets “awful lonely”, demonstrating she never gains attention until after her death at the hand of Lennie [AO1]