Writing essays in French for A Level can seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach and techniques, you can write successful, high-scoring essays. This guide will provide you with tips and strategies for all aspects of French essay writing at A Level, from choosing essay questions to structuring your response to maximizing vocabulary and grammar.
Choosing Your Essay Questions
When presented with a choice of essay questions in an exam or for homework, it’s important to choose questions you feel confident answering. Scan all the questions and immediately eliminate any about topics you know little or nothing about. Then, re-read the remaining questions and consider the following criteria to choose the best ones for you:
Familiar topics: Choose questions about themes, works of literature, or film you have revised well and feel comfortable discussing in French. Having in-depth subject knowledge will help you write with authority.
Interesting to you: You’ll write with more enthusiasm and engagement if the essay question is on a topic that interests you personally. Showing passion and engagement can boost your marks.
Balance of reading/writing: While literature questions test your reading comprehension, questions on topics like current affairs or cultural issues can allow you to “write around” a subject more. Balance questioning testing different skills.
Mix of question types: Consider both open essay questions and those with a stimulus text or quotation to comment on. A variety of question types shows your full range of abilities.
Planning Your Essay Structure
Once you’ve chosen your essay questions, take time to plan out a clear structure before starting to write. A well-organized presentation of ideas will make your argument easier for the examiner to follow and demonstrate your logical thinking. Here are the key elements to include:
Introduction: Briefly state the essay question and your Response (agree/disagree). Signpost your main points.
Body Paragraph 1: Develop your first main argument or area of discussion. Include analysis and examples from texts/experiences.
Body Paragraph 2: Your second main point or area of analysis. More examples and elaboration.
Body Paragraph 3: Your third main point to round out your arguments. Conclude body paragraph.
Conclusion: Briefly sum up your response and main points without introducing new ideas. Restate your position.
Developing Your Argument
Once you have established the basic structure, it’s time to start filling out each paragraph with detailed points and evidence. Here are some techniques for developing a convincing argument:
Fact vs opinion: Clearly distinguish between statements that are facts and opinions, and back opinions up with examples and reasoning.
Textual references: When relevant, directly quote or paraphrase from works and texts studied to evidence your ideas. Analyze quotes.
Rhetorical techniques: Use transition words like ‘moreover’, ‘furthermore’ to link ideas logically. Employ rhetorical devices such as imagery, metaphor, and repetition.
Personal anecdotes: Where relevant, include any related experiences from your studies or life to demonstrate deeper understanding.
Balanced perspective: Acknowledge alternative views but show why your argument is stronger through counterarguments. Avoid bias.
Precise vocabulary: Employ a varied vocabulary at your level, including less common words and idioms where appropriate. Use a dictionary.
Structuring Complex Sentences
To achieve the highest levels, your writing must showcase a wide range of grammatical structures and the ability to manipulate language effectively. Here are tips for structuring more complex French sentences:
Use a range of connecting words such as ‘puisque’, ‘cependant’, ‘néanmoins’, ‘d’une part…d’autre part’ to join multiple clauses.
Employ subordinating conjunctions like ‘bien que’, ‘lorsque’, ‘pourvu que’, ‘à condition que’ to add subordinate clauses.
Vary between active and passive voice for stylistic effect (‘la pollution a été causée’ vs. ‘les industries ont pollué’).
Embed phrases using relative pronouns like ‘qui’, ‘que’, ‘lequel’ to vary sentence structure (‘les émissions qui causent le réchauffement climatique’).
Create cohesive links between sentences using pronouns to avoid repetition (‘Il faut réduire ces gaz. Ils menacent gravement notre planète’).
Be confident using more advanced tenses like future, conditional or pluperfect where appropriate.
Checklists and Editing
Leave time after completing your essay to review and improve your work. Having checklists for common issues can help you edit effectively:
Content: Does each paragraph have a clear topic/idea? Are main points fully developed?
Structure: Does the intro clearly state your answer/main points? Are ideas presented in a logical order? Is there a clear conclusion?
Textual references: Are quotes/references to texts smoothly integrated and fully analyzed?
Examples: Are general points clearly evidenced and exemplified to bring them to life?
Varied vocabulary: Could word choice and structures of sentences be further expanded at your level?
Tenses/aspects: Are a variety of verb tenses and aspects used correctly throughout?
Grammar: Proofread carefully for any gender inconsistencies, agreement errors, spelling/accents, using a grammar guide.
Time management: Have you used your time appropriately and answered the full question?
Self-editing with checklists like this can identify areas for improvement to polish your work before submission. But try not to over-edit or change your overall arguments.
Careful preparation, logical structure, clear communication and editing are key to successful French A Level essay writing. Focus on developing persuasive and nuanced arguments using examples, quotations and vivid vocabulary. Following these guidelines will have you writing top-scoring essays in no time. Bonne chance!
Andrew Stroud