Back to the full dot-point answer
ScotlandEnglishQuick questions
The Critical Essay
Quick questions on Writing a critical essay on drama and prose - SQA Higher English
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is choose techniques that fit the question?Show answer
Read the question and decide which techniques the writer uses to create what is being asked about. A question on a character points you to characterisation and dialogue; a question on tension points you to structure and conflict; a question on a theme points you to symbolism, setting and structure. Let the question choose your techniques, rather than importing a memorised list.
What is drama?Show answer
For a play, discuss how the dramatist uses dialogue and soliloquy to reveal character and motive, stage directions to create mood and signal action, conflict to drive the plot, and structure (the placing of the climax, the turning point) to shape the audience's response. Always treat the text as performed: a pause, an exit or a lighting cue is evidence you can analyse.
What is q1?Show answer
For a question about tension in a play, which two techniques are most relevant and why? [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
What is the main difference between a top-band and a lower-band drama or prose essay? [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
A prose question focuses on setting. Name two techniques you would analyse and what each could show. [2 marks]
Have a question we have not covered?
This dot-point answer is short enough that we have not extracted many short questions yet. Read the full dot-point answer or ask Mo, our study assistant, in the chat for follow ups.