- Avoid descriptive writing. The only section of the paragraph where you can describe is where you introduce a quotation. This should not be longer than a medium size sentence.
- Your comments must be filled with analytical points. That means identifying a language or literay feature and comment on its effect on us as readers, an audience or other characters.
- Don't use singular personal pronouns ['me' or 'I']in your writing. Instead use a formal academic register. Instead use collective personal pronouns such as ['we' or 'our']. Another feature of an academic register is the avoidance of cliches, slang, colloquial or hackneyed expressions. Do not use these in your writing.
- Your paragraphs are often far too long. You will not get marks for writing long drawn out, thin or flabby patragraphs. Be concise in your writing. Write what you want to communicate in the fullest but shortest way. Don't repeat yourself. And don't wander off the subject.
- Comment only on what is in the quotation. Avoid making assumptions that are not made explicit in the quotation you are using.
- Always write with a wide margin on every page.
- Only use one quotation as evidence for a point you want to make.
Here is the paragraph we worked on together at the end of
the last lesson
For most of the play Blanche hides her face from Mitch. She
does this because she does not want him to see how old and unattractive she is.
In scene 9 Mitch realises what she has been doing and turns on a bright light, “So
I can take a look at you good and plain!” This is an exclamative and imperative
sentence. It communicates Mitch’s anger at being lied to all summer and it
shows Mitch’s power as he demands to see what Blanche actually looks like. The
post modifiers ‘good and plain’ emphasise the importance this is for Mitch.
Despite his anger we understand and feel
sympathetic towards Mitch here.
