How to structure an A level essay?

Question

I have been given an essay to do for english literature. However, the teacher has never told us how to structure the work and my last essay i did was pitiful. This is only my second english lit essay and any tips or websites would be great

Answer 1

Most essays follow a three or five paragraph format with the first paragraph being the intro and the last paragraph being the conclusion and the paragraphs in the middle being the body.

The intro should contain a thesis statement, the body should talk about the thesis statement, and the conclusion should summarize the thesis.

That's a pretty simplified breakdown.

For more information, check out the following sources:

Answer 2

It is a long time since my schooldays, but in my job I was often asked to advise on problems and situations. The format of my response was always the same, i.e.
1. Define the problem
2. Make the recommendation
3. Provide the background
4. Submit the argument.
I am sure the other answers provide more information than this, but as a simple structure, for any type of communication, this should fit the bill.

Answer 3

Try it this way.

You need an introduction, followed by your arguments; followed by your conclusion.

Pick out the major words and points of the question; they will form the basis of your introduction. For example, if the question is: "Discuss the role of women in Bram Stoker's Dracula and contrast them with the idea of the masculine ideal shown by the main male characters. How does Stoker use these to show the Biritish fear of 'the other' in his novel?

Your intro could start: ' The discussion of the role of women in Dracula and how they contrast with the masculine ideal will form the basis of this essay. In addition, this essay will explore how Victorian fears of 'the other' are highlighted by Stoker...... blah, blah.

Then, of course, your arguments will be based on the text--not retelling the story, but showing how Lucy and Mina demostrate the two victorian obsessions of Virtuous, 'angel in the house' and 'mad women in the attic as a symbol of dangerous female sexuality etc, etc.

Then you conclude by saying something like:

'This essay has demonstrated how Stoker has illuminated.... blah blah.

A general rule of thumb is: whatever the length of your essay, your intro should be 10% of that, as should your conclusion: a 1000 word essay means an intro of 100 words and a conclusion of 100 words.

Answer 4

First comes pre-writing
>>Brainstorm
*Write many words that come to your mind or even sentences to organize your thoughts and what you are going to include
* The most effective pre-writing technique is web diagraming,divide each theme by topics and sub topics
>>Write the tesis stament
* The tesis stament is basically the first sentence of your essay,it must not be written in first person unless its a opinion and that would be a special type of essay
>>Write the body
First Introduction
Most details
Establish the Main Idea
Up to five sentences
Try to limit one idea per sentence
Second body
Use less details,but support your main idea
Elaborate
3 paragraphs,depending on the lenght asked

Third conclusion

Re-establish your main point and support it with what u've proven


Then:
Proof-read
Sintaxis
Grammatical errors
Ideas

Last:
Rewrite and you are ready to go

Answer 5

you will discover lots on kings and queens, court docket intrigue, and so on. attempt to wreck out to the nation-state, learn the way the peasants lived, how Manors with their responsibilities to the crown shaped the backbone of the armies. The bowmen have been necessary , the pike-men keeping floor and breaking apart quotes via the cavalry.

Answer 6

first write something general about the topic in the intro.
then in the body part writing make it enjoyable so that whoever reading it get pleased.
on the conclusion give a message or something which touches ones heart.
goodluck

Answer 7

try the bbc website. they have gcse bitesize and AS level revision as well. or just google it. that would be better, although you might have to sift through a lot of info. hope this helps!