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Shooting an Elephant

Shooting an Elephant . Critical Essay. What is a critical essay?. Basic structure of a critical essay. Introduction Body of Essay Conclusion. Each section of the essay needs to cover certain aspects. Introduction. Title of the essay Author Theme(s)

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Shooting an Elephant

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  1. Shooting an Elephant Critical Essay

  2. What is a critical essay?

  3. Basic structure of a critical essay • Introduction • Body of Essay • Conclusion

  4. Each section of the essay needs to cover certain aspects

  5. Introduction • Title of the essay • Author • Theme(s) • Essay Intention – what your essay is going to be showing the reader

  6. REMEMBER Choose a non-fiction text in which vivid description is an important feature. Discuss in detail how the vivid description is created and go on to explain how it contributes to your appreciation of the text as a whole • At Higher we are aiming to show that we can write fluently and stylishly. You sentences should flow while showing understanding. For example…

  7. Example A • The non-fiction essay ‘Shooting an Elephant’ was written by George Orwell. It was written about his time as a police officer in Burma when it was part of the Empire. This essay will show how Orwell uses vivid description to contribute to my appreciation of the text as a whole.

  8. Example B • ‘Shooting an Elephant’ is an account of George Orwell’s experiences as a police officer in Imperial Burma. Orwell recounts the day he had to shoot an elephant in order to save face in front of the natives. Vivid description is used throughout the essay to highlight Orwell’s views of Imperialism, his feelings towards the native people of Burma and his guilt at shooting the elephant.

  9. Body of the Essay • Basic structure that we try to follow • P – oint • E - vidence • E - xplain

  10. POINT • This is a reminder to your reader of the task. • Another name for the ‘point’ is TOPIC SENTENCE. • The topic sentence contains two pieces of information to direct your reader… • 1. the task • 2. the focus of your paragraph

  11. Example: • Orwell’s description of his job highlights his disgust towards Imperialism. • Task • FOCUS

  12. The topic sentence immediately allows my reader to see what I am focusing in on • What information do I have about Orwell’s job in the essay? • What paragraphs could I focus in on?

  13. Paragraph 2 is most obvious. • Highlight any areas in paragraph 2 where Orwell’s description shows that he is not a fan of the Empire. • Paragraph 7 hints at his feelings in his job. • Highlight any areas in paragraph 7 that suggest his job is not easy – if it links into his feelings about the Empire at all?

  14. EVIDENCE • To ensure that your reader knows exactly what you are talking about provide them with CONTEXT before your QUOTATION. • Eg. Orwell’s hatred for his job in Burma is evident when he describes the prisoners that he sees. • “The wretched prisoners huddling in the stinking cages of the lock-ups, the grey cowed faces…the scarred buttocks.”

  15. CHOICE • You can either use this example or you can use your own quotations from paragraph 2 or 7…you must be able to engage with it and show HOW the description shows Orwell’s dislike for the Empire. Choose a good one!

  16. EXPLAIN • This is where you have to explain why you have chosen this evidence and make sure you are answering the task.

  17. From my example: • Orwell’s use of emotive language creates a negative impression of the police in Burma. He describes the prisoners as ‘wretched’ which implies that they are in ill-health and feel miserable. He furthers this wretched picture by describing the overcrowded nature of the prison. Orwell “bitterly” hates the British as he can see close up what the Empire did to rule the natives of the country. Orwell’s effective use of emotive language suggests that although he was not literally confined as the men in jail were, he felt bound to hide his negative feelings towards the Empire. His silence was “imposed” on him suggesting that there was an unseen force holding him prisoner.

  18. OK…remembering your structure • P – topic sentence • E – context and quotations • E – analysis and linking back to task • You can now pick out any part from the passage which you think is effective in vivid description that highlights his feelings towards the native people and his guilt about shooting the elephant.

  19. Suggestions: • Symbolism of the ‘puppet’/’the mask’ • The adjectives/emotive language describing the elephant’s death • The dead coolie… • You can choose anything you want as long as it links in with Orwell and the feelings you stated in the essay intention in the introduction.

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