Essay Question

1. Essay Question Oliver Twist is a novel in which characters go through many positive and negative experiences. Describe one experience that a key character went through in that novel. Explain what readers can learn about that key character from the way they reacted to that experience. (The experience your describe can be negative OR positive – your choice)

2. SELC Essay Introduction Structure Introductions have a particular structure – an order that you use to introduce what you will be writing in your essay. First, you make a STATEMENT (your answer to the question). Then you EXPLAIN any important words or ideas in the statement (explain what the key words in the statement represent, in your own words) Then you LIST the two points you will make in your body paragraphs (list them in the same order they will appear in the body of your essay) Finally, you make a COMMENT to sum up your own opinion on this topic and/or to state the source you will use for your evidence  

3. Essay Introduction Structure Introductions have a particular structure – an order that you use to introduce what you will be writing in your essay. First, you make a STATEMENT (your answer to the question).i.e. We learn a lot about the character of Nancy from reading about her part in delivering Oliver to Bill Sikes, in the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens Then you EXPLAIN any important words or ideas in the statement (explain what key words in the statement represent, in your own words) i.e. This is a negative experience for Nancy as she does not want to feel that she has helped ruin Oliver’s life by putting him into Bill’s clutches, but it shows readers that she is as much a victim of Bill Sikes and Fagin as Oliver is. Then you LIST the two points you will make in your body paragraphs (list them in the same order they will appear in the body of your essay) i.e. We learn that Nancy fought against Bill’s orders, that she delivers Oliver to Bill against her better judgment and that she regrets helping Bill to take Oliver. Finally, you make a COMMENT to sum up your own opinion on this topic and/or to state the source you will use for your evidence i.e. The way Nancy reacts to being an accomplice to Fagin and Bill’s plans helps readers of Oliver Twistto understand how intimidation and the limitations of poverty can scare good people into doing bad things.

4. Essay Introduction – Done!Once we remove the guidelines we’ve created a great introduction for our essay We learn a lot about the character of Nancy from reading about her part in delivering Oliver to Bill Sikes, in the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. This is a negative experience for Nancy, as she does not want to feel that she has helped ruin Oliver’s life by putting him into Bill’s clutches, but it shows readers that she is as much a victim of Bill Sikes and Fagin as Oliver is. We learn that Nancy fought against Bill’s orders, that she delivers Oliver to Bill against her better judgment and that she regrets helping Bill to take Oliver.The way Nancy reacts to being an accomplice to Fagin and Bill’s plans helps readers of Oliver Twistto understand how intimidation and the limitations of poverty can scare good people into doing bad things.

5. SEXC Essay Body Paragraph Structure Essay body paragraphs have a particular structure which you can remember using the letters SEXC. SEXC stands for the order that you write down your ideas in a body paragraph for an essay. First, you make a STATEMENT (your answer to the question). Then you EXPLAIN your statement in more detail (try to convince us your answer is sensible) Then you give an EXAMPLE to prove your statement (show us that your answer came from something you read in the text) Finally, you make a COMMENT to sum up your own opinion on this topic  

6. SEXC Essay First Body Paragraph Example Here is a set of body paragraph guidelines (in white) and examples sentences for each part (in green). First, you make a STATEMENT(the first point in your answer to the question).Nancy was ordered to take Oliver from Fagin’s place and deliver him to Bill Sikes. Fagin thinks Oliver will go with her because she has shown concern for his welfare before, so he trusts her. Then you EXPLAIN your statement in more detail (try to convince us your answer is sensible) Although Nancy does follow through with her part in the plan, first she shows her concern for Oliver again, by fighting against putting Oliver in harms way (under Bill’s control), so much so that she takes a beating from Bill for trying to resist their plans for Oliver. Then you give an EXAMPLE to prove your statement (show us that your answer came from something you read or saw in the text) ““See here! I have borne all this for you...”…she pointed, hastily, to some livid bruises on her neck and arms; and continued: “Remember this! And don’t let me suffer more for you, just now. If I could help you, I would; but I have not the power.”” Finally, you make a COMMENT to sum up your own opinion on this topic. Dickens shows us Nancy’s concern for Oliver and her fighting, maternal spirit when we read about Nancy’s bruises, gained trying to stand up for Oliver’s welfare. Readers can tell that Nancy has been intimidated into following through with her part of the plan, and that her kind, protective feelings for Oliver have been overruled by violence.

7. SEXC Essay First Body Paragraph – Done! Once we remove the guidelines we’ve created a great first body paragraph, making our first point in answer to the essay question Nancy was ordered to take Oliver from Fagin’s place and deliver him to Bill Sikes. Fagin thinks Oliver will go with her because she has shown concern for his welfare before, so he trusts her. Although Nancy does follow through with her part in the plan, first she shows her concern for Oliver again, by fighting against putting Oliver in harms way (under Bill’s control), so much so that she takes a beating from Bill for trying to resist their plans for Oliver. ““See here! I have borne all this for you...”…she pointed, hastily, to some livid bruises on her neck and arms; and continued: “Remember this! And don’t let me suffer more for you, just now. If I could help you, I would; but I have not the power.””Dickens shows us Nancy’s concern for Oliver and her fighting, maternal spirit when we read about Nancy’s bruises, gained trying to stand up for Oliver’s welfare. Readers can tell that Nancy has been intimidated into following through with her part of the plan, and that her kind, protective feelings for Oliver have been overruled by violence.

8. SEXC Essay Second Body Paragraph ExampleHere is another set of body paragraph guidelines (in white) and examples sentences for each part (in green). First, you make a STATEMENT (the second point in your answer to the question). After Oliver is delivered to Bill, Nancy regrets the part that she played – gaining Oliver’s trust only to betray him by leaving him with Bill. Then you EXPLAIN your statement in more detail (try to convince us your answer is sensible) . Nancy refuses to answer Fagin’s questions about Bill’s plans for Oliver. She has been drinking, perhaps to dull the guilt of delivering Oliver to Bill, and makes it clear to Fagin that she hopes Oliver is dead in a ditch, because it would be a better fate than being under Bill’s control. Then you give an EXAMPLE to prove your statement (show us that your answer came from something you read in the text). “'The child,' said the girl, suddenly looking up, 'is better where he is, than among us; and if no harm comes to Bill from it, I hope he lies dead in the ditch and that his young bones may rot there...I hope he is dead, and out of harm's way, and out of yours.‘” Finally, you make a COMMENT to sum up your own opinion on this topic. I think Nancy feels that Oliver’s death is preferable to being controlled by Bill because that is how she feels about her life. She knows it is too late for her to live any other type of life – she is not educated, and has no money or connections – but it was not too late for Oliver and she feels terrible that she was partly to blame for Oliver's life being ruined the way her life has been.

9. SEXC Essay Second Body Paragraph – Done! Once we remove the guidelines we’ve created a great second body paragraph, making our 2nd point as an answer to the essay question After Oliver is delivered to Bill, Nancy regrets the part that she played – gaining Oliver’s trust only to betray him by leaving him with Bill.Nancy refuses to answer Fagin’s questions about Bill’s plans for Oliver. She has been drinking, perhaps to dull the guilt of delivering Oliver to Bill, and makes it clear to Fagin that she hopes Oliver is dead in a ditch, because it would be a better fate than being under Bill’s control. “'The child,' said the girl, suddenly looking up, 'is better where he is, than among us; and if no harm comes to Bill from it, I hope he lies dead in the ditch and that his young bones may rot there...I hope he is dead, and out of harm's way, and out of yours.‘” I think Nancy feels that Oliver’s death is preferable to being controlled by Bill because that is how she feels about her life. She knows it is too late for her to live any other type of life – she is not educated, and has no money or connections – but it was not too late for Oliver and she feels terrible that she was partly to blame for Oliver's life being ruined the way her life has been.

10. Essay Conclusion Structure Conclusions have a particular structure – an order that you use to summarise what you have concluded about your essay topic. First, you make a STATEMENT that reminds the essay reader of the first statement in the introduction. (You should use synonyms, so that it is a rephrasing, not a direct repeat of your first statement, but means just about the same).When we read about Nancy’s involvement in delivering Oliver into the hands of cruel Bill Sikes, in the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, we realise that this is a negative experience for Nancy. She is beaten for standing up for Oliver, and ends up feeling terrible guilt and wishing that she, and Oliver, were dead and free from Bill forever. Then you SUMMARISE what you have learnt about your topic – use all the information and personal opinion comments you have included in your body paragraphs. (You should use synonyms, so that it is a rephrasing, not a direct repeat of sentences you have already used, but summarises their meaning). This experience shows us that Nancy is a victim of a violent man, trapped in a life of poverty and intimidation. Readers feel sorry for Nancy because she does care about Oliver, but she is powerless to help him, or herself. Dickens uses Nancy’s situation to shows us a very sad side of poverty in Victorian London.

11. Essay Conclusion– Done! Once we remove the guidelines we’ve created a great conclusion to our essay When we read about Nancy’s involvement in delivering Oliver into the hands of cruel Bill Sikes, in the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, we realise that this is a negative experience for Nancy. She is beaten for standing up for Oliver, and ends up feeling terrible guilt and wishing that she, and Oliver, were dead and free from Bill forever. This experience shows us that Nancy is a victim of a violent man, trapped in a life of poverty and intimidation. Readers feel sorry for Nancy because she does care about Oliver, but she is powerless to help him, or herself. Dickens uses Nancy’s situation to shows us a very sad side of poverty in Victorian London.