Analytical Essay Body Paragraph
Annotated Example (PETAL)
Today you will read one body paragraph from a sample response to the
practice analytical essay question for your Half Yearly exams. Firstly, to
understand what an essay question is asking of us, we need to
deconstruct it. This is a quick way to begin the planning process and will
be a useful tool to utilise when writing under exam conditions.
What does ‘analyse’ mean? Identify components Shown through
and the relationship between them; draw out and literary techniques
relate implications. This means you need to see a chosen (relates to
connection between the setting and how a example provided)
totalitarian control has impacted it.
“Analyse how Suzanne Collins relating to a system of
Shows the
presents the effects of totalitariangovernment (Districts of
consequences of Panem) that is centralised
control in the dystopian and dictatorial and
setting of Panem” requires complete
subservience to the state
(The Capitol)
A dystopian society is a fictional society
characterized by oppression, misery, and a
generally miserable existence for its members
When you deconstruct your question, it is also a good idea to include
synonyms that you can use to help broaden your vocabulary and avoid
repetition throughout your essay. For example:
Totalitarian Control:
Presents:
Absolute power
Shows
Analyse: Authoritarian rule
Reveals Dystopian setting:
Examine Oppressive
Demonstrat Effects: Bleak world
Explore government
es Impacts Oppressive society
Investigate Dictatorship
Displays Consequence Controlled future
Study Tyrannical
Highlights s world
leadership
Look closely Results Harsh environment
Portrays
at
Depicts Outcomes Futuristic
Break down dictatorship
Influences
Grim reality
Repercussion
s
“Analyse how Suzanne Collins presents the effects of totalitarian
control in the dystopian setting of Panem.”
Firstly, Collins presents the damaging effects of Main
totalitarian control by showing the extreme poverty in the argument
districts and how powerless people feel under the Capitol. Point
One example of this is when Katniss says, “District 12: Explains the
effect that
Where you can starve to death in safety.” This is an Suzanne
example of irony, which highlights the Capitol’s false Collins words
promise of protection. It shows that people are technically have to warn
the reader
“safe,” because of the Peacekeepers who constantly
monitor the people of District 12, but they are still
Identification
suffering terribly being denied basic needs of food and of correct
water. This reveals that the Capitol doesn’t care about the and best
choice of
well-being of its people, as long as they don’t rebel. This
literary
links to the idea that totalitarian governments use neglect technique
and poverty as tools to control people by making them used in the
example
too weak to resist. Furthermore, Katniss’ description of life
Example
in The Capitol as “What must it be like, I wonder, to live in from novel
a world where food appears at the press of a button? How
would I spend the hours I now commit to combing the
Dystopian
woods for sustenance if it were so easy to come by?".” setting
The development of a descriptive setting and use of elements are
identified/
rhetorical questions reinforces the hopeless, depressed
analysed
environment of District 12 in comparison to The Capitol. It
shows that the Capitol’s rule has crushed the spirit of the Main
people of the Districts in Panem, making them feel like argument
links back to
there is no way out. The lack of hope is a powerful effect
the question
of totalitarianism, as it stops people from even trying to
fight for change. This also links to how Collins warns
readers that when a government controls every part of
life, even people's thoughts and emotions can be taken
away.
Analytical Essay Body Paragraph
Annotated Example (PETAL)
Keep in mind that this is only one paragraph. An essay question typically
requires you to present multiple arguments (3-5 paragraphs) in order to
be convincing.
Always remember to deconstruct the question before you start writing.
Make notes about what each part of the question means before defining
key words and listing synonyms that you can use in your essay.
