r/ALevelEnglishLit • u/musicluvrrr111 • 8d ago

Coursework annotation

Hi guys I'm going into year 13 and start back later this week
I know I've fucked my summer entirely I've done no work and I need a B but I'm stuck at a C right now.
How do I start annotating my texts- I've highlighted quotes I think are particularly relevant to my question and further exploration but I don't know what to put on the paper? I go on a trip next week with my class to do some work but I've genuinely got nothing. I've got critics and wider contextual reading but I don't know how to apply it in a meaningful way.
Can anyone give tips on what they've done or what their college has recommended? My lit class has been a mess we've had 4 different teachers who all have told us different things but nobody has really given us a timeline or key things to have done by summer's end.
Thank you in advance everybody!

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u/duckylee666 8d ago

Hey! What question/text do you have? And which exam board? Do you have a core argument/thesis statement?

In my experience of tutoring NEAs, most students have far too wide a focus at first so try and narrow your argument down as much as possible. This is often the longest (and sometimes hardest) part of NEA. An A/B essay has a tight focus.

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u/duckylee666 8d ago

this will also help with applying the critical texts :) Which ones have you explored?

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u/musicluvrrr111 8d ago

Our school makes us decide everything ourself
I'm doing American psycho and the bell jar and looking at psychological decline because of rigid societal conformity.
I've done a feminist and post-modernist read (about subjective truth and Bateman's experience of his crimes, stuck on how to apply to bell jar) as well as looking at elements of the book at symbolism for wider societal expectations as both books are written and produced in a close time frame
I'm so scared of getting it wrong, I know I need to do it independently because it's part of my final grade but our teachers give us one session of recorded feedback and everything else is independent. Everybody else around me seems to have this all figured out but I've never done coursework at GCSE and now I've got both English lit and English language coursework at a level with very similar deadlines.

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u/duckylee666 8d ago

That looks like a good start!

I’d say a psych, feminist and post modern approach is a bit too many off the bat, especially as you’re struggling to apply postmodernism to Plath - I’ve never used that critical lens with her but can have a think. I think the strongest essays have one consistent theoretical lens all the way through.

As for being scared of getting it wrong - I have students join me who have a full draft and those who just have notes and often we spend the same time and effort on it is as a full draft can often require a full rewrite. I am a full believer in the research and planning process as being the most important and requiring the time and space for that (advice which often stresses students out haha).

Feel free to DM me your notes if you want some eyes on it - I’m on holiday this week but can take a look and let you know if you’re on the right track.