How should I include critical viewpoints in my essay?

Critics can be very difficult to engage with effectively. The best way to go about responding to a critic is by understanding how it fits into the familiar PEA/PEE (Point Evidence Analysis/Explain) formula. A solid starting point would be to follow your Analysis with the critical viewpoint (PEAC), which indicates you have considered the critic's opinion in relation to your own argument.

Once you are comfortable with how you respond to critics, you can begin to stregnthen your approach by mixing up the PEAC formula. Opening with a critical viewpoint (CPEA), for example, will allow you to organise an entire paragraph (and therefore your argument) around a critical response. This will make for a more engaged response, and will help you to produce a top-band answer.

JH
Answered by James H. English Literature tutor

6256 Views

See similar English Literature A Level tutors

Related English Literature A Level answers

All answers ▸

How do I go about writing comparative essays?


How does Auden tell the story in James Honeyman?


How can I write something original on my set texts, when so much has already been written on them by experts?


'In Shakespeare's play Othello, Desdemona is presented as a weak character." In light of this view, discuss how Shakespeare presents attitudes towards women.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning