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English Quiz - Constructing an Essay (Questions)

Sharpen your essay skills for GCSE English. Plan a clear thesis, build PEEL paragraphs, and select quotations that prove your points.

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Fascinating Fact:

Link back to the question at the end of each paragraph. One crisp sentence keeps your line of argument tight.

In GCSE English, strong essays present a focused thesis, clear paragraphing, and precise analysis of evidence. Use topic sentences, embed quotations, explain effects, and keep the argument tightly organised.

Key Terms

Thesis: Your central answer to the question that the whole essay supports.
Topic sentence: The first sentence that states the main point of a paragraph.
Analysis: Explaining how language, structure, or evidence proves your point.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How should I plan a GCSE English essay?

Read the question carefully, underline key words, decide a clear thesis, choose 2 to 4 main points, find short quotations, then order your points logically.

What is a PEEL paragraph in English?

PEEL stands for Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link. State one clear idea, support it with a quotation, explain its effect, then link the point back to the task.

How many quotations should I use in a paragraph?

Use 1 to 2 well-chosen short quotations. Embed them in your sentences and focus on tight analysis. Quality and relevance matter more than quantity.

Try These Related Quizzes

1.

Besides reading the text, what is the first thing you should do when writing an essay?

[ ]	Plan the conclusion
[ ]	Make sure you understand the question
[ ]	Decide what your argument will be
[ ]	Write your first sentence

2.

Your answer to the question is called your...

[ ]	debate
[ ]	proposition
[ ]	preposition
[ ]	thesis

3.

Which of the following is NOT one of the advantages of planning your essay?

[ ]	Planning improves the essay's structure
[ ]	Planning ensures that your essay will make sense
[ ]	Planning will guarantee your essay receives an A
[ ]	Planning ensures you fully answer the question

4.

How many paragraphs should you plan to write?

[ ]	A paragraph for each point, plus one each for the introduction and the conclusion
[ ]	Seven paragraphs exactly
[ ]	As few paragraphs as possible
[ ]	As many paragraphs as possible

5.

You should answer the essay question in...

[ ]	the footnotes
[ ]	your next-to-last paragraph
[ ]	your introductory paragraph
[ ]	italics

6.

Your writing should be coherent. What does this mean?

[ ]	It should be clear and logical
[ ]	It should be exciting
[ ]	It should be aggressive in order to prove your point
[ ]	It should sound pretentious

7.

What does it mean to support your argument?

[ ]	You must annotate your essay with proof that your argument is correct
[ ]	You must give the opposing view
[ ]	You must provide evidence from the text and show how it upholds your argument
[ ]	You must provide a list of everyone who agrees with your argument

8.

Which of the following is true?

[ ]	There is only one correct answer to an essay question
[ ]	The answer to an essay question is always an opinion supported with evidence
[ ]	The answer to an essay question is always a fact supported with evidence
[ ]	There are no wrong answers to an essay question

9.

An effective essay structure depends on...

[ ]	thoughtful planning
[ ]	the use of connectives and phrases which link paragraphs together
[ ]	a logical argument
[ ]	All of the above

10.

After you finish writing an essay, you should...

[ ]	proofread it
[ ]	hand it in immediately
[ ]	tear it up and start again
[ ]	lose it

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Organising information and ideas

English Quiz - Constructing an Essay (Answers)

1.

Besides reading the text, what is the first thing you should do when writing an essay?

[ ]	Plan the conclusion
[x]	Make sure you understand the question
[ ]	Decide what your argument will be
[ ]	Write your first sentence

Always read the question carefully to make sure you have understood it correctly. It can be helpful to underline key words, too

2.

Your answer to the question is called your...

[ ]	debate
[ ]	proposition
[ ]	preposition
[x]	thesis

Your thesis is your main point. It must answer the essay question

3.

Which of the following is NOT one of the advantages of planning your essay?

[ ]	Planning improves the essay's structure
[ ]	Planning ensures that your essay will make sense
[x]	Planning will guarantee your essay receives an A
[ ]	Planning ensures you fully answer the question

Failing to plan an essay will nearly always lead to a poor piece of writing

4.

How many paragraphs should you plan to write?

[x]	A paragraph for each point, plus one each for the introduction and the conclusion
[ ]	Seven paragraphs exactly
[ ]	As few paragraphs as possible
[ ]	As many paragraphs as possible

Seven paragraphs is actually a perfectly decent length for an essay, but the number of paragraphs is dictated by the number of points which you plan to make (and you wouldn't skip the planning stage, would you?)

5.

You should answer the essay question in...

[ ]	the footnotes
[ ]	your next-to-last paragraph
[x]	your introductory paragraph
[ ]	italics

You should always answer the essay question in your first paragraph - the rest of the essay builds an argument to justify your answer

6.

Your writing should be coherent. What does this mean?

[x]	It should be clear and logical
[ ]	It should be exciting
[ ]	It should be aggressive in order to prove your point
[ ]	It should sound pretentious

7.

What does it mean to support your argument?

[ ]	You must annotate your essay with proof that your argument is correct
[ ]	You must give the opposing view
[x]	You must provide evidence from the text and show how it upholds your argument
[ ]	You must provide a list of everyone who agrees with your argument

Evidence includes quotations and other references to the text (i.e. to characters, themes, scenes, events, etc.)

8.

Which of the following is true?

[ ]	There is only one correct answer to an essay question
[x]	The answer to an essay question is always an opinion supported with evidence
[ ]	The answer to an essay question is always a fact supported with evidence
[ ]	There are no wrong answers to an essay question

Wrong answers do exist. Texts can support many varying interpretations, but they are not endlessly adaptable and it is possible to have an interpretation which just cannot be supported by the text

9.

An effective essay structure depends on...

[ ]	thoughtful planning
[ ]	the use of connectives and phrases which link paragraphs together
[ ]	a logical argument
[x]	All of the above

10.

After you finish writing an essay, you should...

[x]	proofread it
[ ]	hand it in immediately
[ ]	tear it up and start again
[ ]	lose it

It's so easy to make mistakes when writing, probably because writers edit themselves continually. Always check for mistakes