Analytical tasks in Year 10 and beyond are about more than retelling the sotry or highlighting basic themes and symbols, you are expected to explain and explore how and why the author creates meaning, and who that meaning resonates with. These analytical tasks can get tedious if you don’t lock into the basics. This article will help you with that! Read on!
ONE:
Answer the question, not the story.
In this task you can safely assume that whoever is reading your work has read the text. You don’t need to explain every detail to them again. Markers are looking for you to form a clear argument, directly referencing the question and analysis of how the author’s techniques create meaning for specific audiences.
Unpacking the question in detail is an excellent first step when it comes to these tasks. Underline the key words in the question, rewrite it in your own words and make sure every paragraph clearly links back to your answer of it.
TWO:
Build Strong Topic Sentences
Each topic sentences need to make a clear point, link to the question (often by using similar language) and introduce the focus of the paragraph.
A too simplistic topic sentence might be, “The author uses symbolism.”
A stronger topic sentence might be, “Charlotte Bronte uses the recurring symbol of the storm to highlight Mr Rochester’s internal conflict.”
When you move from the planning to the writing phase of the process, ask, “what am I trying to prove in this paragraph?”.
THREE:
Don’t just identify techniques, analyse them.
High-level responses explain how techniques shape meaning in the context of audiences and their feelings. Instead of saying, “the author uses imagery”, write “the imagery of “perpetual charcoal darkness” reflecy the moral corruption within society, prompting audiences to feel a negative response to the character.”
A go-to technique for this is using the formula below each time you use a new piece of evidence:
What (the evidence) -> So what (what the evidence means/analysis) -> So how (how does it prompt readers to think/feel/react) -> So now (how does it link back to the answer to the question)
Happy analysis!!
