How do I use my Science skills to do well in English essays?!
At first, it seems ridiculous to think that you could possibly use your science or maths ability to your advantage in English. However, what many students don't realise is that at GCSE, and even A-level to an extent, there is a marking criteria just like in your Science or Maths exams and if you do what the criteria asks, then the examiner HAS to give you the marks!
Obviously across different exam boards this criteria will vary slightly. The four main things that you must put in your essays however, are as follows:
1. Answer the question! Showing an understanding of the question and making sure you don't drift off is the main thing markers care about. It's so simple it's one people tend to miss! Structure your essay well and get that spelling and grammar down and you'll be fine.
2. Language, form and structure analysis. Using the simple Point Evidence Analysis (or PEA) technique, this box can be easily ticked.
3. Opinions. Your opinion on what the text means and critics opinion on things are fab and easy marks. Here is the "there is no right or wrong answer" bit. Say what you think it means and 90% of the time you'll get it right. Easy marks.
4. Context. Understanding the text in relation to it's own era. Remember what period of time the author was writing in and how this will shape the text. How would readers at the time respond?
So there you go! 4 boxes to tick. Do all 4 above and the marker has to give you some high flying marks. Obviously, how effectively you do the four things above is the tricky bit, but that's what your tutor is for! People who are good at Science and Maths tend to think logically and analytically. They also tend to be good at remembering lots of facts; think of quotes from the text and critic quotes as the fact, and think of three analysis as how the fact works. Hopefully seeing that English essays aren't as messy and random as you thought they were will help!
So use your Science brains to get one over on those bookworms!
