Well both is B.A literature and Masters my seniors as well as the teachers used to suggest that references from the text attract the attention of the examiner and they distinguish that student from others. Besides this they used to advice that instead of going inti history or background start the answer by directly responding to the the question.s statement. The first para should be the short answer of the question and in the rest of the answer one should explain in detail . In this explanation one can make use of the background and hisory. Besides this it is always advisable to quote references from other writers. Either you can quote other writers in favour of the statement or against it. Like if we are favouring the role of gods in Oedipus Rex we can quote from (here I have forgot the name of the writer) that
Gods are like wanton boys, they kill us for their sports.
or while depeicting optimism we can quote
'God is in his heaven , all is good with the world.
While answering give both the views. Like while writing character is destiny give both the views, on one hand tell that character is destiny at the same time also mention that what it means tha destiny has the decissive power. But keep in mind while giving both the narration write less about that view with wich you dont agree.
You can arrange the question in this way.
1st para. Short answer.
Second para the explanation of your idea.
3rd para. Briefly narrate opposite view.
And in rest of the question support your answer with reasons, logic, references from the text , other sayings of that writer and the other writers.
And dont forget to conclude the answer in the last para.
Another trick the teachers used to tell is that if one has in his mind some good quotation , one should mold question in such a way or one should take the question to such a direction that one may make use of that quotation.
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Thanks Allah
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