Responding to a fiction text – WJECHow to analyse a fiction extract
In an extended response essay to a fiction text you can talk about character, setting, themes and language. You should also explain the effect that a text has on you.
An essay should be an argument that uses evidence from the text to clearly make points. Your essay should also draw a conclusion.
Essay questions might focus on:
characters
voice
themes and ideas
language form and structure
Identify the focus of the task, then find evidence that specifically supports your response to it.
Annotating
The key to planning an essay is to focus on the question. What are you being asked to do?
The next stage is to annotate your extract, or find evidence from your longer text to support your answer. Keep the question in mind as you do this. Highlight or underline key parts of the text that you will be able to use in your response.
Think about:
the narrative voice
how characters are presented
what the main themes of the text are
what the structure or shape of the text is
what language devices are used
who the audience for the text is and how that affects the way the text is written
If you are looking at an extract, read it more than once. First read the entire text from beginning to end and get a sense of its purpose and meaning. On your next read-through annotate important words and phrases.
Planning an essay response
When you’ve read the text carefully and annotated it, make your essay plan. Start with a bullet point list or a mind map with all the ideas you can think of that relate to the question. Link your ideas to specific parts of the text. Then pick the points you’re going to use. Aim for at least four to five main points in an essay. Finally arrange your points in a logical order.