Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
Eduqas

Planning and writing an essay on 'An Inspector Calls'

I can plan and write an extended and developed response about ‘An Inspector Calls’.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
Eduqas

Planning and writing an essay on 'An Inspector Calls'

I can plan and write an extended and developed response about ‘An Inspector Calls’.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
View new resources
arrow-right

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Use the essay question as a planning tool by annotating its keywords.
  2. It's helpful to create a detailed plan which includes a clear thesis and focused topic sentences.
  3. A thesis is your overarching argument.
  4. A topic sentence states the paragraph’s main idea.
  5. Essays should follow a structure: introduction, main body paragraphs, conclusion.

Keywords

  • Thesis - the overarching argument to an essay, supported by the entire text

  • Essay - a piece of writing that explains and develops your own argument

  • Dramatic methods - the tools a playwright uses to create drama. Examples are: setting, stage directions, dialogue and language choices

  • Theme - an idea that is explored in a text in a number of different ways to fully explore the complexity

  • Specific - a precise detail

Common misconception

All planning should be in note form.

Foundations of your essay - thesis and topic sentences - should be written in full so you know they are powerful, precise and purposeful.

Consider the time your class needs to both plan the essay (first practice task) and write the essay (second practice task). Use this to inform your planning for this lesson.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J.B. Priestley, Heinemann 2014 edition.

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Skip lesson video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Which word beginning with 't' can be used to describe a statement that presents your overarching argument in an essay and is found in the introduction?
Correct Answer: thesis, thesis statement, thesis statements, a thesis, a thesis statement
Q2.
In 'An Inspector Calls', which character dismisses the idea of community and social responsibility as "nonsense"?
Correct Answer: Mr. Birling, Mr Birling, Arthur Birling, Arthur
Q3.
In 'An Inspector Calls', which character had Eva Smith fired from her job a the department store Milwards?
Sybil Birling
Correct answer: Sheila Birling
Eric Birling
Arthur Birling
Gerald Croft
Q4.
Is the answer true or false? In 'An Inspector Calls', Mrs. Birling refuses help to Eva Smith because of her social status.
Correct Answer: True, T
Q5.
Here is an essay question about 'An Inspector Calls': 'How does Priestley use the character of Mr. Birling to comment on ideas about power?' What are the key words in the question?
Correct answer: How
Priestley
Correct answer: Mr. Birling
ideas
Correct answer: power
Q6.
In 'An Inspector Calls', how does Gerald Croft react to the Inspector’s investigation?
He denies any involvement and deflects blame.
He takes full responsibility for his actions.
Correct answer: He confesses but argues he was justified.
He tries to cover up his connection with Eva Smith.

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Starting with the first element, put the essay structure for analytical writing on 'An Inspector Calls' in chronological order.
1 - introduction
2 - main body paragraph 1, starting with a clear topic sentence
3 - main body paragraph 2, starting with a clear topic sentence
4 - main body paragraph 3, starting with a clear topic sentence
5 - conclusion
Q2.
When writing essays on 'An Inspector Calls', you will include a thesis. Where should your thesis be found?
at the start of each paragraph
at the end of each paragraph
Correct answer: in your introduction
Correct answer: in your planning materials
in your introduction, and then repeated, word for word, in your conclusion
Q3.
Essays are made up of different elements. Match each element to its definition and purpose.
Correct Answer:introduction,moves from the general to the specific, includes your thesis
tick

moves from the general to the specific, includes your thesis

Correct Answer:topic sentence,first sentence of each paragraph stating its main idea
tick

first sentence of each paragraph stating its main idea

Correct Answer:analysis,exploration of moments, quotations and methods from the text
tick

exploration of moments, quotations and methods from the text

Correct Answer:concluding sentence,last sentence of each paragraph; focus on writer's intention
tick

last sentence of each paragraph; focus on writer's intention

Correct Answer:conclusion,moves from the specific to the general; focus on the writer's impact
tick

moves from the specific to the general; focus on the writer's impact

Q4.
When you read an essay question on 'An Inspector Calls', what is the first step of the planning process?
making a list of all the dramatic methods you can remember
re-reading the text
starting the essay, refining ideas in the editing stage
writing a thesis statement
Correct answer: annotating the question's keywords
Q5.
When planning an essay on 'An Inspector Calls', you should complete a detailed plan. Match each section of the planning grid to its definition.
Correct Answer:thesis,overarching argument supported by the whole text
tick

overarching argument supported by the whole text

Correct Answer:topic sentence,first sentence of the paragraph stating your main idea
tick

first sentence of the paragraph stating your main idea

Correct Answer:supporting details,references to the text
tick

references to the text

Correct Answer:concluding sentence,final sentence of a paragraph, concluding your idea
tick

final sentence of a paragraph, concluding your idea

Correct Answer:conclusion,sums up your essay's overall thesis
tick

sums up your essay's overall thesis

Q6.
A pupil drafts a sentence answering a question about Eric in 'An Inspector Calls': "Priestley reveals Eric's relationship to responsibility in Act 3." Is this a topic sentence or a thesis statement?
thesis - it is about the character of Eric and no-one else
thesis - it begins with Priestley's name showing he crafted the character
neither - this is analysis because it refers to a particular scene
Correct answer: topic sentence - it is focused on one clear idea
Correct answer: topic sentence - one idea supported by a moment in text rather than whole text