- Sep 19, 2019
Our top 8 tips on how to write your National 5 English Critical Essay
Your critical essay is an essay that allows you to demonstrate your analysis, interpretation and evaluation of pieces of literature. Your national 5 English critical essay is worth 20 marks (or half of the critical reading exam) so it is important to make this count. In this post, we have outlined our top 8 tips on how to write and pass your National 5 English critical essay.
Remember: The N5 English Critical Essay questions are found in Section 2 of the Critical Reading paper. You must only answer one question.
1) Choose the right genre!
Ensure you select the correct genre for your essay. The Critical Essay paper will give you a choice of genres: Drama, Poetry, Prose and Language . You can only write an essay on a novel or short story using one of the Prose questions.
Writing about the wrong genre will stop you getting the grade you deserve.
Remember that your Critical Essay cannot be from the same genre as your Scottish text.
2) Choose the right question!
Under each genre heading, you will have a choice of two questions. Make sure that you read both of them carefully and select the one which you feel you could write about best.
3) Identify the key words in your chosen question! These words will be the focus of your essay.
For example:
Choose a poem in which the poet creates a powerful sense of place …
Choose a novel in which there is an interesting character .
In each of these examples, you would use the underlined phrase as your key words.
4) Introduce the text! Your introduction should consist of a brief paragraph consisting of two parts. Firstly, include the title, author, form and subject of your text.
E.g. ‘Dracula’ by Bram Stoker is a powerful gothic novel based upon an ancient vampire’s attempt to move from Transylvania to England.
The second part of your introduction should be a link to the question – using those key words.
E.g. Throughout the novel, we can clearly see how Stoker portrays Count Dracula as a mysterious and interesting character .
5) Structure your discussion! After your introduction, identify where you first see the key words in your chosen text.
E.g. In the opening stages of the novel, Stoker establishes Count Dracula as an interesting character when the protagonist – Jonathan Harker- is travelling to his castle:
‘I was not able to light on any map or work giving the exact locality of the Castle Dracula…’
Start every other paragraph, with a topic sentence that includes the key words.
Later in the novel, we see Stoker further develop the idea of Count Dracula as an interesting character , when Jonathan meets him in person…
6) Provide analysis of any evidence!
Here, the author makes effective use of setting , when he locates Dracula in a mysterious home. This helps develop the sense of the count being an interesting character.
Note that evidence can be quotations, but it doesn’t need to be – especially if you are writing about drama or prose. You just need to explain what events are significant and why they are effective.
7) Remember to evaluate!
Use phrases throughout your discussion to evaluate the writer’s methods:
E.g. this clearly shows… this is effective in revealing… this provides a vivid image of…
8) End in a proper manner!
Your essay must be complete. This means that you need to include a separate concluding paragraph, which sums up your discussion.
You can start your conclusion with
In conclusion, throughout (name of text) we can clearly see (key words) in terms of…
Ultimately, throughout (name of text) we can clearly see (key words) in terms of…
Just remember to include the key words in your conclusion and include an evaluative term too.
Eg. In conclusion, throughout the novel ‘Dracula’, Bram Stoker has clearly presented Count Dracula as an interesting character . This is evident in his effective use of setting to make Dracula mysterious, and later through the character development where the count changes from a proud Transylvanian to a murderous monster.
- SQA Nat 5 and Higher English
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SQA National 5 English Paper 1 Mark Scheme – May 2016
The 2016 SQA National 5 English Paper 1 X724/75/11 Tier mark scheme. The exam date for the X724/75/11 National 5 English was 5th May 2016. View and download SQA National 5 English past papers .
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Finalised Marking Instructions. Scottish Qualifications Authority 2022. These marking instructions have been prepared by examination teams for use by SQA appointed markers when marking external course assessments. The information in this document may be reproduced in support of SQA qualifications only on a non-commercial basis.
Finalised Marking Instructions. Scottish Qualifications Authority 2023. These marking instructions have been prepared by examination teams for use by SQA appointed markers when marking external course assessments. The information in this document may be reproduced in support of SQA qualifications only on a non-commercial basis.
General marking principles for National 5 English: Critical Reading. This information is provided to help you understand the general principles you must apply when marking candidate responses to questions in this paper. These principles must be read in conjunction with the specific marking instructions for each question.
Critical Reading 2022 (All links open to PDF files) 2022 Question paper (External link to SQA website) 2022 Marking instructions (External link to SQA website) Candidate 1 Evidence - Question 7 - Shutter Island. Candidate 2 Evidence - Question 6 - Mrs Tilscher's Class. Candidate 3 Evidence - Question 9 - Letter to an MP.
General Marking Principles for National 5 English: Critical Reading This information is provided to help you understand the general principles you must apply when marking candidate responses to questions in this Paper. These principles must be read in conjunction with the detailed marking instructions, which identify the key features
the SQA 2021 critical reading (section 2 - critical essay) assessment. Candidate A 4. Choose a novel or short story or work of non-fiction which deals with an important human issue. By referring to important techniques, explain how the writer explores this important human issue. The candidate was awarded 10 marks for this response.
Critical essay Critical essay mark Total . Comments . 1 . War Photographer : 20/20 . Final question - 8/8 . The Dark Knight . 14/20 . 34/40 : Unpicking of marks - explanation of how marks for 'commonality' can be awarded from the body of the candidate's response and not where the candidate has labelled it. Media critical essay . 2 ...
National 5; About the National 5 English course Section Two - Critical Essay. The National 5 English course is assessed on folio writing, a spoken language assessment, a final exam as well as ...
Revise how the Nat 5 English course is assessed with tips on the exam and assignment. Bitesize Scotland guide to Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Nat 5 SQA
SQA National 5 English Paper 1. SQA National 5 English Question Paper 1. Reference X724/75/11. View Question Paper. View Mark Scheme. SQA National 5 English Past Papers. View and download NAT 5 English past papers and mark schemes for exam revision and practice.
2019 Marking instructions (External link to SQA website) Candidate 1 - Scottish text: The Slab Boys. Critical Essay: The Great Gatsby. Candidate 1 Evidence. Candidate 2 - Scottish text: The Telegram. Critical essay: Romeo and Juliet. Candidate 2 Evidence. Candidate 3 - Scottish text: The Cone-Gatherers. Critical essay: O Captain!
1) Choose the right genre! Ensure you select the correct genre for your essay. The Critical Essay paper will give you a choice of genres: Drama, Poetry, Prose and Language. You can only write an essay on a novel or short story using one of the Prose questions. Writing about the wrong genre will stop you getting the grade you deserve.
Candidate 4 evidence - SQA - Understanding Standards: About this website
has been enjoyed/gained. The essay is described by the statements in the 13-10 mark range, and it was awarded a mark from the middle of the range - 11 marks, its relevance off-setting thinness of analysis. National 5 English Question Paper 2019 | Critical Reading Commentary SQA | www.understandingstandards.org.uk 3 of 26
necessary copyright clearance. SQA's NQ Assessment team may be able to direct you to the secondary sources. These marking instructions have been prepared by examination teams for use by SQA appointed markers when marking external course assessments. This publication must not be reproduced for commercial or trade purposes. ©
NATIONAL 5 CRITICAL ESSAY EXEMPLAR - 'MACBETH' Techniques: characterisation, key scene(s), structure, climax, theme, plot, conflict, setting, dramatic irony, foreshadowing Choose a play which you feel has a dramatic final scene. Describe briefly what happens in the final scene and then, by referring to appropriate
Scheme and Generic Scheme. The illustrative scheme covers methods which are commonly seen throughout the marking. The generic scheme indicates the rationale for which each mark is awarded. In general, markers should use the illustrative scheme and only use the generic scheme where a candidate has used a method not covered in the illustrative ...
SQA National 5 English Paper 1 - May 2017. SQA National 5 English Question Paper 1. Reference X724/75/11. View Question Paper. View Mark Scheme. Download 2017 SQA National 5 English past papers for SQA National 5 English. Free SQA National 5 English past papers from 2017.
General marking principles for National 5 Physics This information is provided to help you understand the general principles you must apply when marking candidate responses to questions in this paper. These principles must be read in conjunction with the detailed marking instructions, which identify the key features required in candidate responses.
The 2016 SQA National 5 English Paper 1 X724/75/11 Tier mark scheme. The exam date for the X724/75/11 National 5 English was 5th May 2016. View and download SQA National 5 English past papers.