How to structure an HSC English essay quiz

1500 to 2000 words

900 to 1100 words

500 to 700 words

As long as possible to show effort

Throughout history, literature has explored the human condition.

The author uses many techniques to show the theme of love.

Hamlet's enduring power comes from its refusal to give Hamlet himself a coherent reason for delay, locating the play's interrogation of action in the gap between what Hamlet says about himself and what the text reveals.

There are many themes in this text.

One long one

Three to four

Six or more

As many as you can fit

Restates the topic sentence

Ties the paragraph back to the thesis AND pushes the argument outward to what the analysis reveals more broadly

Introduces the next paragraph

Quotes one more time from the text

Quotes that are too long

Quotes in italics

A sentence consisting of nothing but a quote attribution (e.g. 'Hamlet says: To be or not to be.'), adding no analysis

Quotes from the wrong text

It is hard to write

Markers have read the text and want analysis, not retelling

It uses too many words

It is grammatically incorrect

Under 10 words, embedded fluently in your sentence

Exactly one full sentence from the text

A whole paragraph for context

At least 20 words to show you read the text

Define the title of the text

Open with a conceptual claim that frames the question you are about to answer

Quote a famous author about literature

Restate the question word-for-word

Restating wastes words

Conclusions are graded separately

Restating signals you have nothing more to say; pushing outward shows your argument has produced an insight that matters beyond the text

NESA rules require a unique conclusion

Spelling errors

Substituting description for analysis (telling the marker what happens instead of arguing what the text's craft does)

Using too many techniques

Writing in pen instead of pencil