grade nine essay

The Ultimate Guide On How To Achieve Grade 9 In English Literature

My Background

I studied 10 subjects at GCSE level, I also played netball and basketball during exam season. As a result, I had to balance my time effectively in order to have sufficient revision time and also time for self care (which is just as important.)

Personally I found the fact that we had to learn 3 books, 15 poems and context for the English Literature exams very overwhelming which made it difficult for me to know where to start my revision.

The way I overcame this was by splitting the work into manageable tasks - which I will talk about later in the blog. My learning style is very much visual as I find myself visualising my notes in the exam, therefore I made flashcards and tables (which I will show you later) to aid me in my English Literature revision.

In class, all I did was make sure I listened to the main points and got them down into my book as I knew I could use these for starting my revision. When you’re reading the books in class make sure you listen and actively read along otherwise you will not understand the text!

Top Tip: At the end of reading a scene, act or chapter I would usually make a short summary in my book which I could read the next lesson to keep me up to date.

In English we seemed to have more freedom in the way we structured our notes so do it in a way that benefits you not what the person sitting next to you is doing. I would usually make a timeline that I would add to after reading the next section of the book, adding diagrams would help trigger my memory about that particular scene. But do what works for you!

The Revision

Table Method

I used a table method which enabled me to remember around 40 quotes per exam. First of all, ask your teachers or check past exam questions to see what types of exam questions have been asked in the past. So for me, I did ‘ An Inspector Calls ’ and questions would often be focused on a character or a theme. Therefore, I divided my revision and notes into characters and themes.

Whereas, for ‘ Romeo and Juliet ’ I split the book up into the important scenes to enable me to understand the storyline better and memorise a broad spread of quotes from the entire play. This approach helps breaks the content up into manageable sections and makes it so much easier to learn a good number of quotes, I also used a table for the context. I’ve copied some examples below:

So first of all I would sort my quotes according to how the essay was structured, then create a blank copy of table along with it.

Top Tip: Every single morning for around 2-3 weeks I would blurt quotations for 10-15 minutes each morning. This is where you get absolutely everything you remember onto the blank table then check back with the original version you have already written out and add things you missed in another colour. At first you will have lots of red quotes however the number should start to go down, here you can see visual progress which can be quite motivating for some people who struggle to revise. Also, re read your books and pick out your own quotes this makes it different to everyone else in your class and will make your essay stand out to your teacher and examiner as you can make varied and different points, re reading also gives you a better affirmed understanding of the book as I found it quite hard to concentrate reading in class. Also, ask your teacher if you can borrow the book to read at home so you don't need to spend any money!

If you're struggling to understand the plot, YouTube videos will help you get a better grasp of the whole play or novel. But, if you’re aiming for grade 8’s and 9’s, there are specific videos which I found helped the most. I have linked to them below...These 3 channels have many books and poems so just search for your book in their channel, these will really help you to start thinking on a higher level and help you qualify for the top grade bands in the exam.

Stacey Reay - The Inspector Grade 9 Analysis

Mr Bruff - ‘An Inspector Calls’: Top Set Analysis

Mr Salles Teaches English - Grade 9 Analysis Poppies, by Jane Weir

I then created some wrote some structured notes. For these, I would condense the information in the video and add my own knowledge onto a single flashcard, you need to remember thousands of other students will be watching these videos so make sure to add your own quotes and opinions.

Here are a couple of examples:

Essay Plans

I often used the ‘rule of three’ to help me make quick essay plans when under time pressure in the exam. Here’s how to do it...

Whatever the question all you need to do is make 3 detailed points about it , this helps you cover a range of the text without writing too much and running out of time. So if the question is “Explore the theme of hatred” you will come up with 3 points in the play where hate is shown, demonstrate this through a quotation and then explain your point and contextualising it within the play as a whole.

Pro tip: Check the mark schemes to see how many marks are available for context as this differs from book to book and you want to make sure you don't over or under do it.

In your essay plans make sure you outline the 3 different things you would talk about depending on what theme came up in the question and decide what context you’re going to link your points to. Do this before the exam! You’ll be able to write far more quickly if you already know roughly what you’re going to say, making it up as you go wastes time and there’s a chance your essay might not flow as well as it could do.

For character based questions talk about the character at the beginning, middle and end ( note: this still uses the rule of three). I allows for a detailed, well-rounded analysis of the character’s development through the novel or play.

Here is an example of a ‘Romeo and Juliet’ essay plan where I chose the 3 key scenes I was going to write about and the context to go with it:

Here’s an example of the beginning of an essay, this time on the theme of ‘love’:

Here’s another one in a similar ‘plan then practice essay format’ for ‘ Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde ’:

Here is a more detailed character essay plan for ‘An Inspector Calls’. I didn’t always write out my plans in this much detail, many of them were short and punchy which made them easier to remember and made me feel more confident:

As you can see, the plan above includes a general introduction, you can use this introduction structure in any essay you write . I like to do this because all you need to do is memorise the basic structure and then adjust slightly to fit the character or theme you are discussing. This lets the examiner know you have a good understanding of the play/novel and sets you up for a good essay. It can also be a good opportunity to frame up the points you’re going to discuss in your essay.

Analysing Texts

In the exam you will also get some questions with text from a book you have studied, this requires you to analyse language and structure. To revise for this, find any conversation between two people in your studied book and analyse language form and structure and plan some points you could make about the characters . If you practice doing this regularly it will come more naturally to you in the exam and a section you've already analysed may come up!

My strength in an exam is usually my memory, I never seem to forget anything. I attribute this to the repetitive ‘blurting’ revision method I use. My weak point is coming up with the three points I’m going to discuss in relation to the question which has been asked on the exam. I find this quite stressful as the time in the exam is always ticking. Nevertheless, I’d always recommend you go into an essay with a clear plan even if you do take a little longer to get clear on what points you’re going to make. Making sure your essay is clear and easy to follow is so important.

Stick to the timings of each question, which is usually between 30 and 45 minutes depending on the amount of marks. I’d recommend you’re fairly strict with yourself and move on even if you haven’t fully finished, you will usually find you will have spare time at the end to go back and add details.

Top Tip: I don't recommend completing past papers…. Hear me out, those questions pretty much have a 0% chance of coming up. Instead, I recommend you use the same format of question but change the character or theme to something which hasn't come up recently. You should absolutely use past papers to predict the trends in what the examiners ask so you can better predict what might come up, this helps when doing poetry, you can make it easier for yourself by not learning the most recent poems and focusing on those which haven’t come up.

I created essay questions by myself and completed around 10 to 15 of them. In my real exam everything I had practiced and planned came up and I was able to use my table for relevant quotes to support my points. That said, I didn’t know much about the poem which came up. As a result, I picked a poem I knew lots about to compare it to. In the specification it doesn't mention a balanced comparison is compulsory , therefore it is acceptable to write more about one poem than the other and still achieve top marks. This was clear to me after looking at my grade breakdown - I only missed out on 3 marks in both papers. A clear example of why knowing the specification and how the examiners are instructed to grade your papers really matters!

Past exam questions and papers:

All in all, have fun with your revision, using the table method you could turn this into a game with your friends to see who can remember the most quotes, you can also do by picking a character or theme and shouting/saying quotes at each other (this is helpful for auditory learners). As long as you have learned your quotes and know the basic plot of the book or play, you can use your own unique knowledge to ace your exam!

I hope my tips have helped. I’ve tried to be as specific as possible about what I believed helped me achieve a grade 9. I would love to see your feedback on this article and let me know if it helped you. I wish you the best of luck in all of your exams, go smash it!

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Grade 9 Level 4 Writing Sample

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FULL MARK & Grade 9 2019 English Lit AQA GCSE examples

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Unit of work

Last updated

22 February 2024

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I will (soon) be a univeristy student. These are my essays from Summer 2019 when I sat my English Lit GCSE. Overall I achieved 97% and several full mark answers.

Macbeth - 27 Marks Jekyll and Hyde - 30 Marks Inspector Calls - 30 Marks Poetry P&C - 28 Marks

Sorry if the questions on the essays aren’t the exact ones on the exam paper - I can’t quite remember them word for word.

If you download for free I don’t think all the essays are there so you would need to purchase them for all the completed essays.

Any money made is going towards my university expenses (and maybe even a takeaway once in a while!).

AQA have released the papers on their website and the essays are my own.

Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?

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i have not received the work on an inspector calls

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Did you purchase it?

Empty reply does not make any sense for the end user

Hi<br /> I couldn’t download the inspector call and poetry

Sorry you’re having trouble. I’m not sure how to get around that. Did you purchase it or download (I think watermarked?) version? :)

greatplanet

Gachareroll570.

I seem to be missing the completed version of the Inspector Calls Essay. Is the one in the preview finished or is there more?

Hi, it is completed - it was when I uploaded and I haven’t heard anything from people who have used this resource.

are you saying that these arent the questions that are on the english literature gcse?<br />

Sorry I’m not quite sure what you mean, but these are the questions that I answered when I sat my English Literature GCSE :)

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Why Your 9th Grader Should Practice Essay Writing Now

Whether or not your high schooler enjoys writing, it’s a skill she’ll need to master. As you probably know, writing is something your student will be doing throughout high school—and the rest of her life. So, how can you help her practice and master the art of essay writing now—and why does she need to start early? Read on to find out.

Writing is an essential skill your student will need throughout high school and college.

In college, your student will be doing a lot of writing. While she may not be writing at a college level now, it’s not too early to start developing the skills she will need then, since her instructor will expect her to have mastered at least the basics.

Read How to Prepare for College-Level Writing in High School for advice.

But writing isn’t just something your student will need to do in college. She’ll also need to do it in high school. She should start getting into the habit of working on crafting formal essays now so she won’t have to learn as many new skills later.

It will gear your teen up for the SAT.

The SAT has a Writing and Language section. Plus, if your child chooses to complete the SAT Essay (or ACT Writing) , she’ll need to learn how to compose a structured essay and make a solid argument for the test.

Gaining practice with essay writing prepares your high schooler for standardized test writing since she’ll have experience developing ideas and brainstorming quickly.

It will get your high schooler’s ideas flowing for the college essay.

How your student says it is more important than what she says. Practicing now will allow her to learn how to develop ideas, use rhetorical devices, and learn language nuances. Check out How to Write an Impressive College Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide for tips on crafting a stellar essay.

Your student will also learn how to “speak” to her audience , avoid cliches, and write according to her audience’s needs.

Discover your chances at hundreds of schools

Our free chancing engine takes into account your history, background, test scores, and extracurricular activities to show you your real chances of admission—and how to improve them.

It will build and provide an outlet for creativity.

Writing is an important tool for self-expression. It’s probably not news to you that teens have angst, and it can be helpful to let out their feelings on paper. Your student doesn’t need to limit her writing to formal essays, either; journaling, creative writing, and blogging can also serve as outlets. Read 10 Easy Ways to Help Your Teen Become a Better Writer for more ideas.

If your high schooler is passionate about writing as an art, check out Creative Writing Opportunities for High School Students to find out about activities and programs to help her hone her talent.

It will prepare your student for the real world.

Writing is necessary for nearly every career . Even if your student isn’t planning on going into a humanities field, she’ll still need strong writing skills for tasks like emails, reports, and general daily communication.

If your student does want to pursue a career in the humanities, she will need writing even more. (Be sure to check out 15 Surprising Career Opportunities for Potential Humanities Majors for career-path ideas.)

Why Writing Matters

Writing is one of the most important skills your child will need throughout her life—from high school into her career. That’s why it’s imperative for her to start mastering it now. Encourage your student to write both inside and outside of school. There are plenty of outlets beyond formal essay writing to help her hone her craft. Who knows? She may even find that it’s her calling.

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

Introduction to how to write an essay

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An essay is a piece of non-fiction writing with a  clear structure : an introduction, paragraphs with evidence and a conclusion. Writing an essay is an important skill in English and allows you to show your knowledge and understanding of the texts you read and study.

It is important to  plan  your essay before you start writing so that you write clearly and thoughtfully about the essay topic. Evidence , in the form of quotations and examples, is the foundation of an effective essay and  provides proof  for your points.

Video about planning an essay

Learn how to plan, structure and use evidence in your essays

Why do we write essays?

The purpose of an essay is to show your understanding, views or opinions in response to an essay question, and to persuade the reader that what you are writing makes sense and can be backed up with evidence. In a literature essay, this usually means looking closely at a text (for example, a novel, poem or play) and responding to it with your ideas.

Essays can focus on a particular section of a text, for example, a particular chapter or scene, or ask a big picture question to make you think deeply about a character, idea or theme throughout the whole text.

Often essays are questions, for example, ‘How does the character Jonas change in the novel, The Giver by Lois Lowry?’ or they can be written using command words to tell you what to do, for example ‘Examine how the character Jonas changes in the novel, The Giver by Lois Lowry.’

It is important to look carefully at the essay question or title so that you keep your essay focused and relevant. If the essay tells you to compare two specific poems, you shouldn’t just talk about the two poems separately and you shouldn’t bring in lots of other poems.

Writing skills

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Writing skills - tone & style

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Writing Skills - sentences

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205 Essay Topics for Grade 8, 9, 10, 12 + Writing Tips [2024]

We came up with this guide to make school essay writing easy for you. Need some creative writing topics for grade 8? Or recommendations for the 11th-grade expository paper? We’ve got you!

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

Helpful tips and essay topics for grades 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12— our Custom-writing.org team has advice for everyone. Here, you’ll find:

205 great essay ideas;
tips on how to write argumentative and persuasive papers.

In fact, our recommendations will be perfectly suitable for both middle and high school students. Still, there will be some grade-specific information. So, start with the 8th-grade essay topics and tips and read till the end!

✏️ 8th Grade Essay
📜 9th Grade Essay
📚 10th Grade Essay
🧑‍🎓 11th Grade Essay
🎓 12th Grade Essay

🔗 References

✏️ essay or class 8: topics & tips, top 10 essay topics for grade 8.

The future of print books
Aliens in science fiction
Why do people need art?
What’s the point of fashion?
Why homework is useless
A book that changed the world
Should all education be free?
Should people learn foreign languages?
The world’s biggest secret
The next scientific breakthrough

8th Grade Essay: How to Write

You already know how to write short, simple essays. In an 8th grade, however, you need to make a point , collect evidence , and present it in your paper. This is when learners start experiencing difficulties with their essay writing.

The picture enumerates the ways to approach research of an essay's subject.

We want to present to you some helpful tips that will help you write excellent papers. Check them out:

Do your research. It’s especially important with argumentative, persuasive, and analytical papers. So, before you start writing, you should go to a library or at least search for information online.
Make outlines. 8th grade is the right time to start making outlines for your essays if you haven’t made them before. It’s best to write an outline after researching the topic since you need to organize all the information.
Be positive. Thinking of your essay as a burden won’t do you any good. You can make things easier by being more positive. Try to pretend your essay is a story you want to tell your friends. It has a main storyline ( thesis statement ), plot twists (arguments), and you wrap everything up in the end.
Make it interesting for yourself. Find the things that excite you the most about your topic. For example, you can try to think of surprising facts you’ve learned while researching it.
Start with 5 sentences. Feeling overwhelmed is another factor that makes it hard to write an excellent essay. The thing to remember is that at the core of any essay there are just 5 sentences. The rest is just additional information to back them up. So, what are these sentences?
Thesis statement. This is where you describe the whole idea of your paper.
Topic sentence 1. The first sentence develops your thesis a bit more.
Topic sentence 2. You add a counterargument here.
Topic sentence 3. Here, you explain how that counterargument helps the case and introduce ways to solve the issue.
Conclusion. Summarize and wrap everything up.
Write the body paragraphs first. After they’re done, it will be easier for you to write the conclusion and introduction since they both basically summarize your whole paper.
Always proofread and edit your essays. 8th-grade teachers are strict when it comes to mistakes and inaccuracies.

Essay Topics for Class 8 in Various Subjects

The deadline is approaching, and you’re out of ideas? This section is for you. Topics provided below can prompt you to write an excellent paper:

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Noise pollution , or Let me hear nature. Noise pollution refers to exposure to high sound levels. In your paper, examine the level of noise pollution in modern cities. Alternatively, you may concentrate on the impact it has on people or domestic animals.
Can robots replace people? Robots perform many tasks faster and better than people do. You can think of professions that may disappear in the near future because of it. You may also think about the spheres that robots can never dominate.
Do children need handwriting skills? Many children (and adults) hate writing by hand. Some even say that people don’t need such skills anymore. Messages are mainly typed now. What do you think about the value of handwriting skills? Should students still be taught them?
Can people live in isolation ? The COVID-19 pandemic made countries launch strict lockdowns . People had to be isolated for many weeks. Such isolation leads to health problems, such as depression and anxiety. What does it tell us about the importance of communication?
Age-based film ratings . Do you agree that age restrictions should exist? Can some movies be excessively violent and inappropriate for some age groups? Is it a kind of discrimination ? What aspects should be considered to impose age restrictions?
Should people go to Mars or the Moon? Why or why not?
What can make a person truly happy?
Who is the mightiest hero among fictional characters?
Write about the bad habits you have and how you can get rid of them
What is the most essential discipline at school?
Describe humanity’s best and worst qualities
Explain how society benefits from using the Internet
If you could change one part of your life , what would you change, and why?
Is it possible to fall in love with someone you’ve never met?
If you had a time machine, what time would you travel to?
Can you judge people without knowing them and how they live their lives?
How would humanity change if we knew the world would end in 10 years?
What would it be like if you couldn’t use your smartphone for a month?
What consequences may occur if artificial intelligence keeps developing?

📜 Essay for Class 9: Topics & Tips

9th-Grade Essay: How to Write

Writing grade 9 essays amounts to improving your skills, gaining more knowledge, and developing your position on various issues. If you need more details about grade 9 essays, keep reading!

First, we want to talk about different types of written assignments that you may receive:

Essays are the most common academic paper assignment that you can master with our free tips:

Use quotes. Sometimes, when researching for your essay, you may stumble across a source that perfectly describes your thesis or some other thought you wanted to use in your paper. Why not quote it, then? Just make sure to include your own ideas as well.
Use Wikipedia the right way. If you’ve got a topic you know nothing about, Wikipedia will quickly help you familiarize yourself with it. Another way to use it is for finding sources. Read an article on your topic and then check its reference section to select some trustworthy ones.
You’re not the only one writing a paper. Your teacher will probably read several more works like yours. This fact makes it even more important to make your text unique and exciting.
Your teacher won’t have enough time to reread if something’s unclear. The clarity of information will definitely influence the result, so make sure that your writing is flawless.

Essay Topics for Class 9 in Various Subjects

Below you will find unique topics for argumentative or persuasive essays:

What is the future of music ? Many people don’t like modern pop music and believe that it was better back in the day. What’s your opinion on it? Discuss what’s in store for pop music . What directions of music development can you predict?
What makes people come up with conspiracy theories ? Some people believe in the secret world government or Americas’ fake Moon mission. You can describe a particularly interesting conspiracy theory . You may also explore the reasons for the existence of such ideas.
Can humans prevent or at least slow down global warming ? Scientists are sure that human negative impact on the environment is significant. What do they think of our ability to address the problem? To what extent can we affect life on the planet?
How much should parents control their children? Rearing children is difficult, and it’s hard to set the balance between restrictions and freedom. Should children and adolescents be allowed to behave the way they want? How can it affect children’s self-esteem in the future?
Do best friends exist? This essay can start with the definition or description of a good friend. Can two people really be best friends ? In what situations is it impossible? Are all people able to be good friends? How can you detect fake friends?
What extracurricular activities should be available in all schools (a specific kind of sport or art)?
Is it a threat to people’s privacy to use cameras as a security measure?
When is the right time to allow children to make their own life decisions?
How does a feeling of importance influence a person’s ego?

The picture shows the 5 stages of writing an essay.

📚 10th-Grade Essay Topics & Tips

Grade 10 Essay: How to Write

Like any typical sophomore, you want to get good grades and write excellent essays. But what if your written assignments never grade higher than a B? Don’t give up! We can help you with it.

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What follows next are the necessary attributes of an A+ essay. Pay attention to them while writing and you will surely succeed:

Read the tips below and learn about the essentials of writing excellent essays.

Resort to advanced storytelling. Even if you’re not working on a narrative essay, you can try applying the following 3-act structure to your writing. According to Indiana University, the structure consists of 3 parts: setup, confrontation, and resolution . The acts set an uninterrupted narrative flow. As a result, the reader doesn’t even notice the transition from one part of the work to another. Here’s how to use this technique:
Don’t let go of your ideas . The thing is always to be prepared for writing, just in case you suddenly find inspiration or a brilliant idea pops into your head. Don’t risk trying to remember it and write it down later—you’ll likely end up forgetting it. To avoid such regrettable situations, make sure to always have a notebook with you.
Check out other people’s essays. Apart from getting ideas for the content of your essay, you’ll also be able to consider the writing style and format of the paper. The more samples you can look through, the better. You’ll see all the possible options and variations of how this type of assignment can be done.

10th-Grade Essay Topics in Various Subjects

Need creative essay ideas? Check out this list:

Censorship and social media. Answer these questions: What is censorship related to social media content? Should any topics be considered taboo? What are the adverse outcomes of such a practice? Where is the line between censorship and fundamental rights violation?
Music and student productivity . The essay can examine the latest findings regarding the effects of different music genres on people’s cognitive abilities. What have neuroscientists discovered? Why does music influence people in such a way? You can describe your personal attitudes and anecdotes.
Why do people have holidays? All nations have their unique holidays . Why is that so? Do people just need more days to rest from work? Do Americans need more national holidays? You may explore the role different holidays play in the development of a nation.
Should individuals, nations, or international bodies interfere in other people’s affairs? Thousands of messages regarding people’s suffering appear every minute. Individuals, charities , governments, and international institutions try to help people across the globe. Is this involvement always justified? Can such interference be regarded as a form of cultural expansion ?
What can national cuisine tell about a nation? Compare the national food of several countries in your essay. Think about whether the environment plays a role in developing cuisines.
Would societies develop without the use of fossil fuels ?
Does science fiction influence the development of technology or vice versa?
How has school life changed throughout the last 20 years?
What’s the best way to choose which school to go to?
How vital is a personal understanding of people’s lives ?
What are the consequences of having too much money?
Do teens need to follow all of their parents’ guidelines?
Does doing less homework make you a better student?
How do celebrities influence the way teenagers look and behave?

Grade 10 English Essay Topics

If you’re a 10-grader, you probably write many essays for your English classes. Can’t choose a topic? Have a look at these ideas:

The role fairy tales play in people’s lives. This essay can be concerned with the way fairy tales contribute to the norms as well as prejudice . Why do people create fairy tales? What is their place in world literature? Can children develop properly without reading them?
The history and significance of comic books . Some people think comic books are inferior to literary works. Do you agree with this viewpoint? What role do comic books play in American society? Why did this art form appear?
The role the setting plays in literary works. You can analyze a specific genre or a text. For example, explore how the setting reflects Emily’s character in A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner.
Should all plastic be banned? Writing an argumentative essay is always a good idea. Students may try to decide whether plastic should be prohibited. Can people (especially in developing countries) live without plastic? What can be a cost-effective replacement?
Oscar Wilde: a master of epigrams. Focus on his plays or The Picture of Dorian Gray . What characteristic features can be found in Wilde’s epigrams? What is the purpose of their use?
What makes Macbeth one of the greatest literary works in English (and world) literature?
Should students read ancient literature, such as The Epic of Gilgamesh ?
What can we learn from books written by politicians?
What distinguishes the epistolary genre?
How the image of the vampire evolved: from folklore to pop culture
Female writers in antiquity and Middle Ages
What is the future of world literature ?

Grade 10 Essay Topics for Creative Writing

The following list of topics will inspire an outstanding composition or even a short story:

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

A detective story of a failed assignment/meeting/ exam. Students become genuinely creative when they try to explain the reasons for not doing their homework . Why not make it an essay topic? Describe a force majeure that made doing something impossible.
A dystopia or a utopia. You can create your own world based on an optimistic or pessimistic view. How perfect can a society be? What atrocities can become accepted in the future? What hierarchies, political orders, or economic models can emerge?
A letter from a historical leader. Imagine you are a ruler of Medieval France or any other monarch . You can write a letter to your royal relative or enemy. A letter from Elizabeth I to future generations can make an excellent essay!
Creative description . Come up with a detailed description of an interesting thing, person, or event. For example, describe a charm on your bracelet and its meaning. Describing someone’s personality traits can be another option.
Writing memoirs . Create a biography of a historical person, fictional character, or modern celebrity. Or, imagine you became famous and write about your way to glory.
A narrative about the most remarkable or tiresome waiting experience
A poem about first love
A parody of A Song of Ice and Fire
Pretend to be a future historian analyzing a current popular song or movie (or any other artifact)
Ponder on the nature and relevance of creativity
Your stream of consciousness (the road to school, a minute in a class, enjoying the sunrise, and so on)
Elaborate on the theory regarding the nature of Agent Smith of The Matrix
Write down the associations connected with your favorite song
Description of the dream you had last night

🧑‍🎓 Grade 11 Essay Topics & Tips

11th Grade Essay: How to Write

You can consider 11th-grade essay writing to be a combination of everything you’ve learned in the previous 3 years. One of its main goals is to demonstrate that you have a clear understanding of all essential writing elements.

You’re going to have the chance to practice various forms of writing. The following tips will help you excel at it.

Try practicing ACT Writing. ACT Writing is a test that requires you to create an essay in just 40 minutes. There are several limitations and requirements associated with it (if you want to learn more, you can check out this article by Southern Utah University on ACT tests and their characteristics ). Practicing this kind of writing with a timer can be highly beneficial for developing your skills. Here’s what you need to keep in mind:
Ideas and analysis. Answer the question given in the prompt as clearly as possible. You also need to demonstrate your perspective and analyze how it relates to other aspects under discussion.
Development and support. Explain all the points you make. The trick here is to make each explanation fit into 2 or 3 sentences—not because of word count requirements, but due to the time limit.
Language use. While writing your essay, make your sentences clear and easy to understand. You should also avoid repetition. You may use some terms or fancy words, but if you do, make sure you know what they mean.
Organization. Even though there are no strict rules for formatting your paper, it doesn’t mean you can turn it into a chaotic mess. The easiest thing to do is to separate each of your ideas into a paragraph. Make sure that the overall structure is logical, and take care of smooth transitions.
Try the Elevator Pitch. It’s a technique salespeople use when developing a short, catchy product summary. When using this technique to write an essay for high school, you boil your ideas down to the essentials. Even though it’s a challenging task, it leaves you with a perfect summary . And you can use it to write an introduction that will undoubtedly grab your reader’s attention.
Know the limits. It’s important to know when to stop. This statement is especially true when you’re selecting a position to take or choosing the main point you want to prove in your essay. Your argument needs to be compelling enough to capture your reader’s attention. But at the same time, you don’t want to overdo it.

Here are some other things that are better to avoid:

An overly broad or poorly written thesis statement.
Topic sentences without a proper focus.
Off-topic writing.
Inadequate conclusion.
Inability to foresee and refute objections.
Talking about things that are too obvious to discuss.

Essay Topics for Grade 11 in Various Subjects

Senior students are required to write about serious subjects. Here we’ve compiled a list of great thought-provoking topics to kickstart your writing:

Pros and cons of criminalizing the sales of alcohol. Alternatively, you can think about the consequences of banning cigarettes .
Nature vs. nurture. Researchers are still unsure whether the environment or inborn traits play a key role in people’s personal development . You may try to provide an answer to this challenging question. You can concentrate on the notorious case of Three Identical Strangers . The examination of the ethical issues related to this kind of research is also a good idea.
Career path plans. Naturally, eleventh-graders need to consider their future careers. It can be a good idea to write a professional development plan . What kind of higher education or skills do you need? How can you acquire them?
Autocratic and democratic regimes in the times of pandemics. You may try to compare the effectiveness of authoritarian or democratic countries when addressing the COVID-19 crisis. How do different regimes address the problem? What role does access to information play in the process? Compare the outcomes of the measures undertaken in the US and China.
Identity in the cyber world. Adolescence is the period of paying considerable attention to one’s identity. The Internet has changed our lives, including the process of identity-making. Why do young people create fake identities in the digital environment? Do these identities affect their authentic selves?
Can English be replaced as an international communication language any time soon?
Is it necessary to punish those who download content from the Internet illegally?
What digital devices can be used to improve education?
Should everyone switch to electric or environmentally friendly vehicles ?
Do the world’s wealthiest countries help poor ones enough?
Is it appropriate for students and teachers to interact on social media?

Grade 11 Essay Topics for Narrative Writing

Choosing the most exciting and potentially successful topic can be challenging. Here are some ideas for the best narrative papers.

The hardest goodbye you’ve ever said. A common approach to this topic is to write about saying goodbye to a friend or loved one. Creative students may describe the moment when they said goodbye to their childhood .
A disaster that led to good outcomes. Write about an event or action that seemed like a mistake but turned out to be beneficial. It can be connected to extracurricular activities, going to a party, taking up responsibility, etc.
Science in our daily lives. It may seem that science is just a school subject. However, every person has conducted at least one experiment or observation in their lifetime. The narrative composition of this essay can deal with such an observation.
The evolution of your professional inclinations. Children often dream of being athletes or movie stars. Some want to be teachers or writers. You may describe the way your idea of a dream job changed throughout your life. What factors affected this evolution?
Conflict management. Describe a situation when you used conflict management skills. These cases can include working on a project, debating with other students, or distributing chores. What skills are needed to manage conflicts effectively?
The most challenging aspects of being an adolescent
Describing the first time doing something ( first day at college , first driving experience, etc.)
The most significant event in a specific year or century
The first considerable success in your life
Growing up in the 21st century
When did Murphy’s Law work in your life?
A day in the life of the world’s happiest person
The most important piece of advice someone gave you

11th Grade Writing Prompts & Topics for Argumentative Essays

Select a topic from the the list below and impress your teacher with a stunning essay:

Should the system of American presidential elections be changed? During the past few years, Americans have started criticizing the existing presidential election system. The Electoral College seems outdated to many. In this essay, you may share your views on the strengths and weaknesses of the voting system.
Should female students be encouraged to study science rather than humanities? Many researchers point out that the scientific world is highly disproportioned when it comes to gender. Women often choose to study humanities rather than sciences due to bias or lack of confidence. How can we encourage talented girls to pursue scientific careers?
Restrictions and totalitarianism . Can governments impose restrictions related to certain areas of people’s lives? Is it a pathway to dictatorship ? Can people be responsible enough to have personal limits? You can focus on such aspects as marriage age and access to information.
Student loans : an opportunity or a burden? Student loans have become a serious issue leading to substantial economic constraints for individuals and the educational system. Older generations stress that they managed to work and pay their tuition fees . Should young people use student loans? Can they receive higher education without this financial burden?
Is conservation a proper approach to treating endangered species ? Many species are on the brink of extinction due to various reasons. Governments and non-governmental organizations try to preserve natural diversity. Conservation is one of the employed methods. Is it effective? Do people have the right to interfere with the natural evolution of species?

The picture explains the process of school essay grading.

Autocratic leaders and technological breakthroughs: the cases of Steve Jobs and Elon Musk
Should physical punishment make a comeback in the American educational system?
Should humans consume products containing GMOs?
Should the US government invest in the exploration of outer space ?

Essay Topics for Grade 11: Persuasive Writing

When writing persuasive essays, students need to find the right words to convince their opponents or the reader. Here are some ideas for such a paper:

Nudging is manipulation, so it should be banned. Companies and even governments often influence people’s choices. Using a coffee smell to boost the sales of food is one such technique. Is it ethical?
Cigarettes should be banned altogether. Everybody knows of the long-term effects of smoking . The negative impact of cigarettes is severe and compatible with substance abuse. Is it necessary to make smoking cigarettes illegal?
Blogging for young people. Many adolescents find blogging a sphere where they can excel. For some, blogging becomes a profession. However, to be a successful blogger , a person should have experience, knowledge, and skills. Do you agree that young people should study hard instead of blogging?
Zoos cannot exist in the modern world. Animal rights gained momentum decades ago, but zoos are still popular places visited by millions. In modern zoos, animals live in cages that can be pretty spacious. However, this does not make them an appropriate place for wild animals. Is it possible to stick to wildlife parks as an alternative?
Birth control . Birth control is a common area of concern for many countries. The Chinese government even had a policy regarding the number of children in a family. Should such policies exist? Are they effective?
Should the age of presidential candidates be changed?
Silent praying time at public schools: is it necessary?
Standardized tests in schools should be banned
Teachers should pass qualification testing regularly
Toy manufacturers shouldn’t advertise their products on kids’ channels
Children committing violent crimes require appropriate punishment
Sex education is necessary for public schools

🎓 Grade 12 Essay Topics & Tips

Grade 12 Essay: How to Write

Grade 12 essays are very similar to those you have completed before. They’re just a bit longer and require more effort and knowledge from you. Here are our tips that will help you write such essays:

Organize your essays adequately and write strong thesis statements.
Make your arguments well-grounded and support them with evidence.
Use terms and various sentence structures.
Make sure your text is grammatically correct.

Bonus: College Essay Tips

When it comes to grade 12, the trickiest writing assignment you’re likely to receive is a college application essay. Don’t worry, though: the tips below will help you ace it! Have a look:

Keep the right amount of detail. To make your college essay memorable, choose the most exciting event from your life. Describe it in great detail, without wasting space on boring trivia. This way, you’ll paint a clear picture of what happened and how it influenced you.
Avoid clichés. Clichés are words and phrases that are often overused and don’t add any value to our writing. Thinking outside the box and using a couple of witty phrases is a good thing. But using age-old clichés defeats the purpose.
Make yourself memorable. Your story needs to stay in the minds of those who are going to read it. Make a strong personal statement so that even sometime later, they can pick your essay up and say, “Yes, I know this one…it’s about that student.”
Check your essay yourself after writing the first draft. Does the story leave a powerful impression? If not, what can you do to make it better? The committee will appreciate that you’ve put some serious work into writing a personal essay.
Don’t settle for an average result. You can do much better than that. To understand the task better, look through some college essay examples and make your work far superior to those.

For more helpful tips and topics, check out our article on writing successful college essays .

Essay Topics for Grade 12 in Various Subjects

Here are some of the current topics that can inspire an outstanding essay:

The future of space exploration . Elon Musk has revolutionized space exploration, giving it a new life. What countries will be leaders in this sphere in the nearest future? Will people colonize Mars any time soon?
What is the background of the Black Lives Matter movement? Discuss what connects BLM and the Civil Rights movements . What factors led to its rise in the late 2010s? What about other ethnic groups and minorities?
Living in a post-COVID era. Will communication become more digitalized? Can we transform healthcare systems accordingly? How did the pandemic affect people’s personal lives?
The future of movie theaters. Can they recover completely from pandemic-related restrictions? Is watching blockbusters at home a more comfortable option?
Body positivity . Can the body-positive approach lead to unhealthy behaviors ? The focus on being too slim or too fat is harmful. Is it better to focus on health and wellness? Should we establish a new health-positive trend instead of the existing appearance-based movements?
The background of the gender pay gap in the scientific world
To what extent can communities interfere with people’s family lives?
The limits of the First Amendment in the contemporary USA
How can we make political debates more civil and focused on solving problems?
If you were a senior mentor, what wisdom would you pass on to a first-year student?
What are effective ways of convincing people to exercise more?
What skills should students have to convince a school that they deserve a scholarship ?
What might be the cause of World War III ? What would be the consequences?
Are books still relevant, or should we all switch to computers, iPhones, and tablets?
How do the obstacles we encounter in life make us better?
What sparks your desire for personal growth and self-development ?
Without which fact, quality, or story would your life be incomplete?

Essay Topics for Grade 12: Creative Writing

Creative writing can be challenging for some students. However, an essay’s success often depends on the chosen topic. The following ideas will boost your creative potential.

When Hulk met Mr. Hyde . It can be interesting to imagine a meeting or a battle between Mr. Hyde and his later version, Hulk. Which one is stronger? Who is more malicious?
Happy new holiday! Come up with a brand-new holiday for the US. What can it be based on? Why do Americans need this celebration?
Being a book on a shelf. It can be exciting to write from the perspective of a mundane object found in any home. What could books on the shelves think of? What are the biggest fears of a fridge?
The best robot ever! Imagine that you live in a future where all people can own robots . What qualities will such robots have? What kinds of chores can they do? Can they complete school assignments for students? What ethical concerns could exist in the society of the future regarding robots?
Home alone. The story of the eight-year-old Kevin is well-known. What would you do in his place? How challenging or relaxing can such an experience be? How soon would you feel lonely?
Should evil be romanticized in literature and cinema?
Being in a 14 th -century classroom
The class in the fantasy world with fictional characters
Imagine a global government of the future
Being a President of the US and proclaiming an inaugural speech
If God were one of us
Lessons from creative people of the past
How to find true love: a guide

Grade 12 Essay Topics for Narrative Writing

Tell your own unique story with one of our imaginative topic ideas:

Being an activist. Youth activism is now on the rise. You can write about your personal contribution or analyze existing movements. What activities are appropriate for students of your age? Where is the line between activism and delinquency?
Talk about your family’s values . Are they culture-based? How did religious beliefs affect these values ? Why should families have such values?
People are responsible for those they have tamed. What did Antoine de Saint-Exupéry mean by this? What kind of responsibility is it? Does it refer to pets or people? You can write your own story of being responsible for someone.
What to do with a billion dollars. Imagine you received an enormous sum of money. What would be the first thing to do? Think of any purchases or orders such as a house, a journey around the world, or even your own island . With this topic, it’s easy to be creative!
The most embarrassing moment of your life . Write from experience or imagination. You can focus on a fictional or famous person. What awkward moments can politicians and movie stars go through?
Things to say to your future self
Becoming a true leader for peers and family
Self-improvement plan to follow after the graduation
Who is the role model for modern children?
Is being a teenager as bad as people say?
The most profound moment in your life
The most striking news of the past year

If you need more ideas, you can try using our topic generator .

Have you found what you were looking for? We hope our guide helped you with your school essay writing. Make sure to share your experience in the comments below!

This might be interesting for you:

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❓ School Essay FAQ

Students write essays on every educational level. Naturally, middle school essays are different from that of a high school. But the general principle is to choose a good topic, research it, make an outline, write the essay, and proofread it.

On that level, the best choice would be to write an argumentative, informative, or narrative essay. Pick a topic that is familiar, interesting, or not too difficult for you. Then, research it, make an outline, and write your essay.

To write a 9th-grade essay, you need to:

1. Choose a suitable topic; 2. Do your research in a library or online; 3. Outline your essay; 4. Write the body paragraphs; 5. Write the introduction and the conclusion.

It’s better not to pick overly narrow college-level topics for an 8th-grade essay. It is better to write about the environment, career choice, nature, or yourself. Choose something broad enough to identify several pros and cons, causes and effects, and other essay components.

How to Do Research: A Step-By-Step Guide, Get Started: LibGuides at Elmira College
Overview of the Academic Essay: Harvard College Writing Center
A Comprehensive Guide for Writing Research Papers, Humanities Edition: Southwestern University
Student Guide to Academic Writing & Research: Accredited Online Schools
Generate Topic Ideas Quickly and Easily: Online Research Library, Questia
Thesis Statements: KU Writing Center
Narrative Essays: Literacy Education Online
Writing Topics: Thoughtful Learning K-12
50 Writing Prompts for All Grade Levels: Edutopia, George Lucas Educational Foundation
100 Persuasive Essay Topics: Grace Fleming, ThoughtCo
Essay Tips: 7 Tips on Writing an Effective Essay: The Fastweb Team
Essay Topics: Oral Roberts University
Essay Topics and Tips: College of Arts and Sciences, Lewis & Clark
UChicago Supplemental Essay Questions: The University of Chicago
50 Narrative Essay Topics: Reading and Writing Resource
High School Essay Writing Course: Time4Writing
Creative Writing Prompts: The Write Practice
81 Creative Writing Prompts for Writers: Writer’s Digest
Short Story Ideas: Creative Writing Now
25 Controversial Topics: The Best Schools
Research Topic Ideas: University Michigan-Flint
Climate Change: ProCon
Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing: The New York Times
Interesting Debate Topics: Udemy
10 Creative Writing Prompts for Story Ideas: MasterClass
Research Topics: Frontiers
Research Topics: National Archives
Essay Topic Suggestions: Gallaudet University
Past Essay Topics: University of Warwick
Literature Topics and Research: Purdue University
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we need conversation questions for the same paragraph writing would be super.

Okay, so I’m in extension English (highest English), and we’ve just written our first essay on To Kill A Mockingbird. Last year I was getting high C’s, mostly B’s and the odd A. But this year, I have a different teacher, and he is not so satisfied with my writing. I got a C- for my first essay this year. He said my ideas were great, logical, and enthusiastic, but the way I’m writing it is not as appealing, motivating and persuasive. How can I improve my writing, so that I can easily get my ideas on the page without making them less effective?

Hi, It’s cool that you want to improve your writing. These are a few suggestions from our experts: 1) use strong thesis statements in your papers (examples are here: https://custom-writing.org/blog/thesis-statement-examples) or download our guide on how to write a thesis statement (you can see it on a pop-up when you come to our blog); 2) use examples to illustrate your position; 3) avoid using too long sentences, so that readers could follow your train of thoughts; 4) subscribe to our bi-monthly newsletter (in the upper right sidebar of the blog) and receive our expert tips directly to your e-mail. Good luck! We are sure that you will learn how to write only A+ papers pretty soon. See you!

I came to college as a mature student. Now I need to write a 4-page essay. I need help.

Hi Sarah, Thank you very much for stopping by. We would be happy to help you with your paper. You are welcome to visit other posts on our blog, or even contact our Live Chat so that our experienced writers could help you. See you, and good luck!

Thank you so much! It’s a big help. I hope I get an A* for my O/L exams this year May. Wish me luck!

Katherine, we aren’t going to wish you luck! You don’t need it:) You will get A+, that’s for sure! 🙂

But if you’re that superstitious – GOOD LUCK! 🙂

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An Inspector Calls: A* / L9 Example Intro + Paragraph

Here are some samples of an essay on An Inspector Calls, on the theme of responsibility. I wrote these myself as a teacher to show students an example of the standard required to get a high level at GCSE. I’ve also broken down the structure below so you can see what to put into each paragraph and how to organise all of your ideas – this is the most important thing for getting a high level in an essay !

Thanks for reading! If you’re stuck on An Inspector Calls and need more help, you can access our full course .

How does Priestley explore the theme of responsibility in the play?

EXAMPLE INTRO:

Responsibility is a very important theme in An Inspector Calls, as the Inspector reveals one by one that all the Birling family are partly responsible for Eva’s death. Eva represents the lower classes, and Priestley uses the tragic ending of her character to spread his message about social responsibility, a message which is delivered by the Inspector himself, who acts as a mouthpiece for Priestley’s own views on socialism and equality. Overall, the audience realizes that their actions affect other people’s lives, so they are responsible for looking after and caring for everyone in society.

An Inspector Calls: Character Revision

EXAMPLE MIDDLE PARAGRAPH:

Point (one sentence that answers part of the question, your idea)
Evidence (quotes/references that prove your point)
The technique (language features/dramatic features/structure features)
Explanation (analysis – how/why the evidence proves the point)
Development (context/alternative interpretations)
Link (linking back to the argument/thesis in the Intro)

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JB Priestley embedded strong political messages in his play, and you need to understand those well to be able to write a high level essay or exam answer on the text. This course will enable you o revise the major characters and social messages in the play, and go deeper into the themes and context so you can get the most out of each essay

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Model Grade 9 ‘ACC’ essay: Christmas as a Joyful Time

Starting with this extract, explore how far Dickens presents Christmas as a joyful time. (30 marks)

Throughout Dickens’ allegorical novella, his aim is to passionately highlight how such a joyful season can create positive role models for Scrooge. The constant succession of images relating to joy around Christmas may well have been utilised to demonstrate how readers too can learn and improve from the inspirational characters during the novella.

Primarily, within stave 1 of the novella, Dickens utilises the characterisation of Fred as the embodiment of the Christmas spirit with all the positive virtues associated with Christmas. This is evidenced when Fred is described as coming in ‘all in a glow’ with ‘his face ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled.’ Here the use of the noun ‘glow’ connotes light and warmth which is strongly linked to hope and purity. This highlights the contrast between Fred and his uncle Scrooge, who was described as ‘hard and sharp as flint.’ Structurally, introducing Fred immediately after Scrooge focuses the reader’s attention on the clear variation between the two and all of the positive qualities that Scrooge lacks. Furthermore, Fred highlights the belief that Christmas is a time for unity within the social hierarchy although it ‘never puts a scrap of gold or silver’ in his pocket and he frowns upon his uncle, completely consumed in the greed for money. Dickens may have done this to foreshadow Scrooge’s transformation into a better man as a result of the inspirational role models around him during the novella. Alternatively, Dickens may have used Fred and Scrooge together to challenge the situation in Victorian Britain during the Industrial Revolution. Scrooge highlights all of the negative traits of upper class men during this time and Fred is a caring and benevolent character, who cares for people lower down on the social hierarchy.

Secondly, within the extract, Dickens utilises the characterisation of Fezziwig to suggest a clear contrast in the two employers. This is evidenced when Fezziwig ‘laughed all over himself, from his shoes to his organ of benevolence.’ The use of the abstract noun ‘benevolence’ suggests the joy and love Fezziwig has for Christmas time. Fezziwig’s kind, caring personality is another role model and catalyst for Scrooge’s transformation. Furthermore, Dickens presents Christmas as a joyful time through Fezziwig’s Christmas party. ‘Fuel was heaped upon the fire’ and the warehouse was transformed into a ‘snug, and warm’ ballroom filled with light. The use of the adjective ‘warm’ connotes kindness and comfort. The detail here in Fezziwig’s scene overwhelms the senses; his generosity is physical, emotional and palpable. As an employer he is the foil of Scrooge and presents all of the positive virtues that Scrooge lacks. Dickens may have done this to highlight a different side to capitalism. Alternatively, presenting Fezziwig as the embodiment of Christmas suggests the importance of Christmas and all of its positive qualities on everyone in society.

Thirdly, within the novella, Dickens utilises the Ghost of Christmas Present to personify Christmas itself. When the ghost appears it has set up an impressive feast of lights and food. This is evidenced when Scrooge’s room is filled with ‘the crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there, and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney.’ The scene is hyperbolic and creates a clear contrast with the frugal state of Scrooge’s past Christmases. The use of the light imagery here provides a clear and undeniable tableau of the joyful Christmases Scrooge can afford but chooses to shun. Dickens may have done this to portray Christmas as a bright and familiar celebration which everyone should celebrate in harmony. A modern reader may feel hope that Scrooge will use his wealth to celebrate Christmas with all of the festivities that Christmas should include and celebrate it with the people that care for him, like his nephew Fred.

Finally, in ‘A Christmas Carol’ Dickens reinforces the theme of Christmas spirit through the Cratchit family. Dickens utilises Bob Cratchit to symbolise the true spirit of Christmas and the importance of family. This is evidenced at the Cratchit’s dinner where nobody remarked that it was ‘a small pudding for a large family’. The adjective ‘small’ emphasises the Cratchit’s lack of luxury and yet their enthusiasm in the scene is palpable. This highlights that this ‘small’ pudding was seen as an indulgence to them which is something Scrooge takes for granted. Furthermore, the Cratchit’s ‘four roomed house’ is filled with an overwhelming sense of energy and excitement, which exists as an antithesis of Scrooge’s ‘old…dreary’ abode. This is evidenced as the youngest Cratchit children ‘danced about the table’ this suggests the sense of energy despite their lowly status in society on this festive day. Dickens may have done this to suggest the importance of Christmas to all members of society. Although the Cratchit family are less fortunate than Scrooge or Fred their Christmas is filled with the love they have for each other. A reader may feel delighted to see this family enjoying Christmas day, contented with what they own and hope that Scrooge will see this family as a role model for his transformation.

gcseenglishwithmisshuttlestone

Secondary English teacher in Herts. View all posts by gcseenglishwithmisshuttlestone

Mr Salles Teaches English

Grade 9 power and conflict.

I often get emails like this:

I was wondering if you could possibly quickly mark this essay I wrote. It would be so helpful as I have important mocks coming up and my teacher has never said we are allowed to send them anything we write!

Also ,by the way, I find your videos so helpful, especially the Macbeth ones!

Thanks again,

Usually, I don’t have time to respond, or the essay has too many mistakes, and it would take even longer to explain them! But, now I’ve started a newsletter, so I can make a bit more time. Pay attention to what Lily does and doesn’t do, and you can get a grade 9.

Compare how poets presents the effects of war on people in Poppies and one other poem in the Power and Conflict anthology

Both poems, ‘Poppies’ by Jane Weir and ‘Remains’ by Simon Armitage, explore how war affects an individual. However this is done in different ways, with ‘Poppies’ describing a mother’s experience whilst ‘Remains’ shows the impacts of war on a soldier, who seemingly has no one to care for him.

This is a good thesis statement, laying out the structure for the essay. Even better if it includes what the author intends us to think about these characters or the issues. What are we supposed to think, feel or predict about the mother’s experience, or the impact on the soldier?

In Poppies, a mother is consumed by the overwhelming grief over the death of her son. She constantly replays her memories of him, stuck in the past, no longer having a life of her own without thoughts of war and violence.

After your thesis statement, get into analysing a quotation. Which one would you use to back up these arguments?

The entire poem is written without structure, and feels incredibly intimate.

How is the lack of structure intimate? This is a really interesting idea, but you have to explain it.

Weir also structures the poem around personal pronouns such as ‘I’ and ‘You’ throughout, which creates the sense that the poem is an eulogy and a collection of memories that the loving mother continuously replays in her head.

Brilliant – you have a convincing reason to mention this structure, as it is leading to really interesting interpretations of the mother. So this earns a high AO3 mark.

However, these memories may actually have taken over her brain, as they have become violent and each is tinted with threatening imagery. Embedded in the memories of her son leaving home is a semantic field of military language, with words such as ‘spasms’, ‘bandaged’, ‘blockade’ and ‘blackthorns’ being used. The word ‘spasms’ ,being used to describe an ordinary object such as paper, highlights how the mother sees the world as dangerous, and may even reflect the constant worry of her son- her fear of his horrifying death.

You link a huge range of references together, for a very high AO1 references mark. Examiners love a semantic field! They are also linked to an interpretation of the mother, for a high AO2 mark.

The nouns ‘blockade’ and ‘blackthorns’ again highlight how she is demonising her day-to-day life, as a ‘blockade’ being a military tactic and ‘blackthorns’ reflecting the barbed wire along trenches.

Demonising her own life is an interesting idea, but you need to explain it, for example ‘so that we imagine…’

The mother’s life seems to have been remade, as she no longer has any time frame other than from when her son left. This is shown as the poet uses vague time frames such as ‘before’ and ‘after’, which show the only focus in her life is the time her son leaves, and how nothing else is now important.

This gets a high AO2 mark, it’s a clever analysis of time. Even better if you tell us how we might react to it.

This overwhelming impact of war is also felt by the soldier in the poem ‘Remains’. Simon Armitage describes a soldier in Iraq who has shot someone (who was ‘possibly’ defenceless), and now cannot escape the memory of it. His mind forces him every day to see the ‘blood-shadow’ of the man he killed on his patrol. This is a metaphor for the stain left by the man's insides on the street, but the word ‘shadow’ reflects how the image is haunting the man like a shadow, as we can never get rid of them.

This is a good comparison of the topic of each poem. But you also need to compare the methods – were any of your quotations from Poppies metaphors too? Now would be the time to make the connection.

Similarly, you have also noticed that this is a memory he cannot leave, which is similar to what you argued about the mother – but again you should make the direct comparison.

Even when the soldier has returned home he is plagued by memories of the murder: ‘and he bursts again through the doors of the bank’. This is the memory the soldier keeps replaying of the looter leaving the bank, but also metaphorically bursting through his mind; he has tried to keep his mind locked and separated but the man violently ‘bursts’ through it each night.

This is a good AO2 analysis as you focus on the implications of a particular word.

Eventually, the soldier recognises his mind as the true enemy when he says that the man is ‘dug in behind enemy lines’. ‘Dug’ reflects the permanence of the man in his brain and by calling his brain ‘enemy lines’ he shows how memory and his consciousness have consumed and ruined him- much like what has happened to the mother in ‘Poppies’.

This is the same length as the previous paragraph, but an excellent example of how to link your analysis of individual words to interpreting the character. This is top notch AO2.

Armitage has written a poem, describing what it is like for soldiers away from the battlefield, which is untypical of war poems, to contrast with readers' ideas of soldiers' lives being glorified and highlight the support that they actually do need.

You’ve written about the poet’s purpose here, which you didn’t about Poppies. You skilfully link to it in the next paragraph, for a comparison. This will improve your AO3 mark.

In ‘Poppies’, the son seems to have fallen for this glorified propaganda that Armitage challenges. Weir describes him as ‘intoxicated’, viewing war ‘like a treasure chest’. This simile reflects how the government and the media glorify war, presenting it as something that can be easily won, like a child's game of pirates, and the honour or ‘treasure’ that can be gained from it.

This is top level AO2 for your interpretation of quotations, and the way you link them across the poem. All your references have been linked to interpretations, so the AO1 references mark is really high too.

However, the mother does not seem to hold these patriotic values. Despite this, she voluntarily put herself in place of a soldier. She describes herself as ‘without reinforcements’ and also as ‘reaching the top of the hill’. These terms both show how she is imagining herself with the soldiers, with her son; ‘‘Reaching the top’ is similar to soldiers going over the top ,leaving their trenches, in war.

This is a brilliant analysis of semantic field that I have never paid attention to. Top AO2. But tell us what we are supposed to think, feel or predict for the top AO3 mark.

Although the mother in ‘Poppies’ wishes to be able to support and aid her son, the soldier in ‘Remains’ feels no support from neither friends nor social services and is left alone to attempt to cure himself with ‘the drink and the drugs’.

If there is a weakness in the structure of your essay it is that you don’t deal with the endings of the poems. Writing about the ends of texts always allows you to write about the author’s ideas, so always gives you high AO3 marks.

But, it also shows you are dealing with the whole text, which gives you high AO1 Task marks, too. So, ALWAYS write about the ending!

In conclusion, both poems explore how war has consumed and destroyed the lives of two different individuals. These individuals remain unnamed throughout each poem, as both poets leave the reader to be able to relate to either protagonist, as they are universal experiences. One is a mother, whose life is plagued with thoughts of her son, who the reader questions may or may not be alive, whilst the other is a soldier experiencing war first hand.

My guide to Power and Conflict Poems includes 11 grade 9 essays, comparing every poem.

The Mark Scheme

Level 6: Convincing, critical analysis and exploration. (26-30 marks)

Level 5: Thoughtful, developed consideration (21–25 marks)

All examiners are likely to agree that the answer has all of Level 5.

Then they might argue about how much it is “convincing” in Level 6. It would probably score in the 28-30 mark range for most examiners. I would be stingier because of the weaknesses I’ve pointed out. Also, you haven’t shown much understanding of Remains (and clearly haven’t watched my video on it!).

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