Essay Question

1. Essay Question Goodnight Mr Tom 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 Tom Oakley from reading about his daring kidnap of his ‘foster son’ Willie Beech, in the novel Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian 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. The kidnap is a negative experience for Tom, but it shows readers just how far Tom is willing to go for someone he loves, when he feels they are in danger. 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 Tom is brave, and we learn that Tom can be strong when someone he loves needs him, even when he is danger himself. 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 Tom reacts to this experience is inspiring to readers of Goodnight Mr Tom, because it shows us that if you care, you put other people first and this can get you through when you are scared.

4. Essay Introduction – Done!Once we remove the guidelines we’ve created a great introduction for our essay We learn a lot about Tom Oakley from reading about his daring kidnap of his ‘foster son’ Willie Beech, in the novel Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian.The kidnap is a negative experience for Tom, but it shows readers just how far Tom is willing to go for someone he loves, when he feels they are in danger.We learn that Tom is brave, and we learn that Tom can be strong when someone he loves needs him, even when he is danger himself.The way Tom responds to this experience is inspiring to readers of Goodnight Mr Tom, because it shows us that if you care, you put other people first and this can get you through when you are scared.

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 (your answer to the first part of the question).Tom has a negative experience when he has to kidnap Willie from hospital. Willie was found by Tom, locked up in the ruins of his mother's house, injured from beatings and starving to death. He had been left to die, like his sister Trudy, who he had tried to look after. Tom had taken Willie to hospital and then wanted to take him home but the hospital will not release him to Tom - they want Willie to go to an orphanage. Then you EXPLAIN your statement in more detail (try to convince us your answer is sensible) Tom hates tricking people and breaking the law. He always tries to do the right thing and does not approve of criminal behaviour (like the abuse of Willie by his mother). Tom cannot think of any other way to keep Willie safe, so he does something really hard for him, to save someone he loves. The way Willie has been hurt is also why this is negative - it is hard for Tom to see Willie so weak, hurt and afraid. He is worried that Willie will not survive the trip home, so he knows that there is still danger, for both of them. If they get caught, he will never see Willie again and could be arrested. Then you give an EXAMPLE to prove your statement (show us that your answer came from something you read or saw in the text) “‘You got the boy then?’ He nodded. ‘Good on you. Takin’ him back to the country?’ Tom nodded again, waved goodbye and strode firmly down the street, wanting desperately to run or look behind and not daring to do either.” Finally, you make a COMMENT to sum up your own opinion on this topic. This experience is very traumatic for Tom as he hates the city, and the war and is horrified by Willie’s condition. I didn’t realise just how much Tom loved Willie until I read about this kidnap – the fact that he would risk being arrested and losing Willie for ever, just to keep him safe and made me think of Tom as a hero.

7. SEXC Essay First Body Paragraph – Done! Once we remove the guidelines we’ve created a great first body paragraph for our essay, answering the first part of the essay question Tom has a negative experience when he has to kidnap Willie from hospital. Willie was found by Tom, locked up in the ruins of his mother's house, injured from beatings and starving to death. He had been left to die, like his sister Trudy, who he had tried to look after. Tom had taken Willie to hospital and then wanted to take him home but the hospital will not release him to Tom - they want Willie to go to an orphanage. Tom hates tricking people and breaking the law. He always tries to do the right thing and does not approve of criminal behaviour (like the abuse of Willie by his mother). Tom cannot think of any other way to keep Willie safe, so he does something really hard for him, to save someone he loves. The way Willie has been hurt is also why this is negative - it is hard for Tom to see Willie so weak, hurt and afraid. He is worried that Willie will not survive the trip home, so he knows that there is still danger, for both of them. If they get caught, he will never see Willie again and could be arrested.“‘You got the boy then?’ He nodded. ‘Good on you. Takin’ him back to the country?’ Tom nodded again, waved goodbye and strode firmly down the street, wanting desperately to run or look behind and not daring to do either.”This experience is very traumatic for Tom as he hates the city, and the war and is horrified by Willie’s condition. I didn’t realise just how much Tom loved Willie until I read about this kidnap – the fact that he would risk being arrested and losing Willie for ever, just to keep him safe and made me think of Tom as a hero.

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 (your answer to the second part of the question). Tom decision to kidnap Will and take him home is a brave one. This experience also shows readers how strong Tom is, emotionally and physically. Then you EXPLAIN your statement in more detail (try to convince us your answer is sensible) Tom has not had to face his fear of the big city, or any danger in the novel so far. Now he could be arrested – he risks losing Will and his freedom. To get Will home he has to overcome his fear and carry Will (and even Sammy) all the way home to Weirwold, even though he is an old man. Then you give an EXAMPLE to prove your statement (show us that your answer came from something you read in the text) “A firm step, he thought to himself…at any moment they might discover Will’s absence….By the time they reached Weirwold he was carrying both Will and Sammy in his arms” Finally, you make a COMMENT to sum up your own opinion on this topic. Tom surprised me with how brave and strong he could be. I think he was able to be such a hero because what he cared about most in the whole world (Will) was in danger, and being worried about Will made him push on despite the danger and hardship.

9. SEXC Essay Second Body Paragraph – Done! Once we remove the guidelines we’ve created a great 2nd body paragraph for our essay, answering the 2nd part of the essay question Tom decision to kidnap Will and take him home is a brave one. This experience also shows readers how strong Tom is, emotionally and physically. Tom has not had to face his fear of the big city, or any danger in the novel so far. Now he could be arrested – he risks losing Will and his freedom. To get Will home he has to overcome his fear and carry Will (and even Sammy) all the way home to Weirwold, even though he is an old man. “A firm step, he thought to himself…at any moment they might discover Will’s absence….By the time they reached Weirwold he was carrying both Will and Sammy in his arms”. Tom surprised me with how brave and strong he could be. I think he was able to be such a hero because what he cared about most in the whole world (Will) was in danger, and being worried about Will made him push on despite the danger and hardship.

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 Tom’s kidnap of Willie Beech, in the novel Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian we realise that this is a negative experience for Tom. He is scared and breading the law against his better judgment. He does this because Will is precious to him, and he is in danger. 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. This experience shows us the bravery and strength in Tom . Tom is a hero and is an inspiration toreaders of Goodnight Mr Tom, because his actions show us that you can get through scary experience if you focus on how much other people need you, and put their safety first. (You should use synonyms, so that it is not a direct repeat of sentences you have already used, but summarises their meaning).

11. Essay Conclusion– Done! Once we remove the guidelines we’ve created a great conclusion to our essay When we read about Tom’s kidnap of Willie Beech, in the novel Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian we realise that this is a negative experience for Tom. He is scared and breading the law against his better judgment. He does this because Will is precious to him, and he is in danger.This experience shows us the bravery and strength in Tom . Tom is a hero and is an inspiration to readers of Goodnight Mr Tom, because his actions show us that you can get through scary experience if you focus on how much other people need you, and put their safety first.