State Ranker's Guide to Writing a 20/20 Essay
Hi! My name is Rowena Fisher. I graduated in 2023 after studying 4 units of English and ranking 5th in NSW in English Extension 2. After many hours slaving away at essays for a variety of modules, I completely understand how difficult and time-consuming HSC English essay writing can be. In this blog post, I will endeavour to unpack go-to structures, answer frequently asked questions and advise on how to capture your unique voice – which I believe is an essential part of a Band 6 essay.
Structure
Introduction
Thesis: here it is paramount to answer the question by recycling key words and phrases while adding in your own unique insight and details!
Let’s have a look at this in response to this practice question: How does Shakespeare use form to explore the theme of ambition in Macbeth?
A good response: Shakespeare uses the dramatic form to explore how Macbeth’s ambition leads to his tragic downfall.
A GREAT response: Through the tragic form, Shakespeare exposes the danger of unrestrained ambition as the protagonist Macbeth descends from a noble warrior into a murderous tyrant.
2-3 sentences: that either outline each of your paragraph points or speak to the text as a whole
Body Paragraphs
Topic sentence: important to recycle key words from the question while clearly outlining the key point of your paragraph
Can also use syllabus buzz words here
Example: Shakespeare’s representation of women explores the inconsistencies between individual pursuits of autonomy when overcoming the collective human experience of gender impositions.
Context statement: many students forget to acknowledge the historical, social and literary background of the texts they are studying
If possible, try to link your context to the main point of your paragraph e.g. my topic sentence centred on Shakespeare’s treatment of women so in my context statement I would likely write on what life was like for women at the time of the play
Situate the quote with plot: before bringing in evidence, you should introduce the quote in a phrase like
Upon Pip’s first visit to Satis House Estella exclaims, “He calls the knaves, Jacks, this boy!”
Evidence: pick the most relevant parts of the text ! Picking niche lines is not as cool as you think!
When I was younger I thought picking evidence no one else used made a better essay but this is not the case. You should be discussing the most significant moments in the text even if you feel like it might not make you ‘stand out’ they are popular for a reason!
For a standard 3 paragraph essay you should use 3 substantial quotes 🡪 no one word quotes allowed
It is also important to ensure that your quotes are in chronological order so your marker can easily track the plot
Your evidence should also cover the whole text
Technique: make this form-based e.g. for novels use characterisation, setting, narration whereas in a play you would discuss monologue, soliloquy and costuming
Avoid using ‘micro’ techniques where possible because it feels a bit Year 7, this includes things like punctuation, pronouns or techniques with weird names that no one actually knows the meaning 🡪 you will not get better marks for using technique with complex names in fact, it just slows down the flow of your essay which could lower your mark in the end.
Additionally, often students will use a micro technique to argue a ‘big’ point which just doesn't make sense
Third-person pronouns have not been used to uncover the rigid class expectations of the Victorian era. Think bigger!
Analysis: ah, the trickiest part of an essay
Analysis should be limited to 2 sentences; you can do more but good essays are concise and clear! Meaning no rambling.
This is where you get to show YOUR own unique understanding of the text! Which is an essential part of a good essay, as it helps you connect with your marker
Analysis should unpack PURPOSE
In the first sentence of analysis: unpack how the techniques has been employed to emphasise the world of the character
In the second sentence: unpack WHY an author wanted to unpack this which = purpose
This often speaks to the wider historical or personal context that they are critiquing or commenting on
Try to recycle words of the question at least twice during a paragraph’s worth of analysis
Linking sentence: sum up your point succinctly while using words of the question
Conclusion
This is my personal favourite part of an essay and is very underrated!
Often at this point your marker is tossing up between two marks so it’s important you end on a good note to convince them you deserve the higher one
End with a BANG! That has some personal flair and connects with the marker
Example: The Merchant of Venice balances tragic and comedic elements to navigate the paradoxes central to the human experience. Despite interpretations of stories evolving, the lessons of Shakespeare’s play endure, urging audiences to look beneath outward appearances and discover the emotions, desires and vulnerabilities that unite us all.
Example 2: By journeying through the mind, Literary Mindscapes delve into the inner lives of individuals throughout history, as they attempt to reconcile contextual expectations with private yearnings. However, until these internal epiphanies translate into action, much like the characters discussed, we will remain paralysed, lost in our thoughts, memories and ultimately, the ceaseless labyrinth of the mind.
How to address a question
Often HSC English essay questions incorporate a quote as a stimulus for the question. To address these kinds of questions and really any kind of essay question, it is important to draw out the key words and phrases and use these throughout your essay ( in the intro, conclusion and at least TWICE in your body paragraphs)
Example:
Great literature is rich and complex enough to offer something new every time and in every context in which it is read.
To what extent does this statement align with you view of Great Expectations?
In each context it is read in, Charles Dickens’ Victorian Bildungsroman, Great Expectations (1861) is a rich and complex social commentary that offers something new – a portrayal of moral development when grappling with societal hypocrisy.
Common mistakes
Quality over quantity: many people think that having 6 quotes and an abundance of techniques makes good essays
While there are multiple ways to approach an essay, I am of the belief that 3 solid quotes with up to 2 literary devices will always be sufficient
This will give you room to develop your analysis properly instead of just recounting the text by using a bunch of quotes
Big words = great analysis
Using ‘big’, complicated words often just interrupts the flow of an essay as it is not a natural part of our expression
It is important to use these kinds of words sparingly and ONLY if use them if you actually understand their meaning
Context is a one-sentence thing
While you should always have a context statement following your topic sentence it is important to always weave the historical, personal and literary background of your text into analysis as this shows true depth and understanding about why texts are the way they are
This is particularly important for context based modules like Module A and B
Resources for improvement
To improve I would definitely recommend Sydney Scholars Tutoring service. In Year 11 and Year 12 I really benefited from having a tutor who I could occasionally consult to look over and edit my assignments and essays. I truly believe that having a second pair of eyes on your work is invaluable during the HSC. There are even sample essays that could help you refine your sentence structure and inspire some conceptual ideas.
Rote learning vs on the spot?
I often get asked whether it is a better to memorise an English essay or write one on the spot. I think it merely depends on what kind of learner you are. For me personally, I found the idea of writing an essay on the spot very daunting so I memorised all of mine. However, it is important to note that if you do choose to memorise an essay you MUST ensure you mould it to the question and don’t just write what you memorised word for word. If you think you can write more authentically to a question by writing an essay on the spot, by all means do it. You are braver than me!
Conclusion
To conclude, it is important to recognise the power of your own unique voice as this is absolutely essential to writing a Band 6 Essay. On that note, trust your instincts and work hard. You’ve got this!
We hope you found this helpful!
Looking for more help? At Sydney Scholars Tutoring, we’re proud to have a variety of tutors who have excelled in HSC English who could offer you that fresh perspective on your work that can take it to the next level. We also have a vast library of exemplars, quote banks, and other resources that can help you get the grade you want.
