Essay tips

A2-Critical InvestigationA2-Critical Investigation

Essay planningEssay planningEssay structureEssay structure

2000 words2000 words

Your plan:Your plan:

• This should break down each paragraph This should break down each paragraph and include quotes and evidence you and include quotes and evidence you intend to use to support your intend to use to support your investigation.investigation.

• This document will support you in writing a This document will support you in writing a thorough essay and thorough essay and shouldshould take several take several hours to put together. Here, you are hours to put together. Here, you are bringing together all of your research.bringing together all of your research.

Essay planning: TIPSEssay planning: TIPS

• Use a computer rather than written Use a computer rather than written notes so you can cut and paste easily- notes so you can cut and paste easily- this means you can adjust the structure this means you can adjust the structure as you go along;as you go along;

• List all of your quotes from each source List all of your quotes from each source on one document and categorise them on one document and categorise them by the argument or point they support.by the argument or point they support.(Perhaps as simple as FOR and (Perhaps as simple as FOR and AGAINST)AGAINST)


• Use your hypothesis alongside a detailed Use your hypothesis alongside a detailed spider diagram to plan where your essay spider diagram to plan where your essay will go. The spider diagram should include will go. The spider diagram should include all the necessary requirements of the all the necessary requirements of the essay as well as all the different arguments essay as well as all the different arguments or points you would like to make. or points you would like to make.

• From this, you can then start to order your From this, you can then start to order your essay paragraph by paragraph. If it helps, essay paragraph by paragraph. If it helps, this can be drawn as a flow chart.this can be drawn as a flow chart.


• The final plan, which we would like to see soon, The final plan, which we would like to see soon, should be a should be a comprehensive comprehensive document with bullet document with bullet points for each paragraph on:points for each paragraph on:

1. The 1. The point point you wish to makeyou wish to make

2. The 2. The evidence evidence you’ve found to support this you’ve found to support this (textual analysis of existing products/quotes..)(textual analysis of existing products/quotes..)

3. 3. Theories/media issuesTheories/media issues that you could apply or that you could apply or relate to your argumentrelate to your argument

4. 4. EvaluationEvaluation of this evidence against your of this evidence against your questionquestion

Essay structure: Essay structure: What should you include What should you include where?where?• IntroductionIntroduction

-introduce your question-introduce your question-texts to support-texts to support-how this relates to contemporary media landscape-how this relates to contemporary media landscape-hypothesis of where you think the question will take you-hypothesis of where you think the question will take you

• Paragraph split with a POINT eachParagraph split with a POINT each-evidence from a wide range of sources-evidence from a wide range of sources-quotes-quotes-effects of globalisation on your topic-effects of globalisation on your topic-how this ties in with cross cultural understandings-how this ties in with cross cultural understandings-theories/media issues and debates-theories/media issues and debates-EVALUATE against your question-EVALUATE against your question

• ConclusionConclusion-sum up what you’ve found-sum up what you’ve found-did your hypothesis come true?-did your hypothesis come true?-any other findings that were interesting/contradicted -any other findings that were interesting/contradicted

Don’t forget:Don’t forget:• Use Media terminology throughoutUse Media terminology throughout• Use a variety of relevant theories to support Use a variety of relevant theories to support

you findingsyou findings• Use a wide range of different researchUse a wide range of different research• Include a discussion on cross media/cultural Include a discussion on cross media/cultural

factors in your topicfactors in your topic• Include a discussion of why your topic is Include a discussion of why your topic is

relevant in the contemporary media relevant in the contemporary media landscapelandscape

• To reference where your sources of To reference where your sources of information are frominformation are from

• Collect sources ready for your bibliographyCollect sources ready for your bibliography

How you are assessed:How you are assessed:

• Demonstrate knowledge and Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debatescontexts and critical debates

• Demonstrate the ability to Demonstrate the ability to undertake, apply and present undertake, apply and present appropriate researchappropriate research

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Essay tips