How do you plan an essay that effectively answers the question?

First, read the question carefully a couple of times, and underline the key words. Think of a couple of synonyms for these that you can use later on to stop your essay from becoming too repetative. Come up with 3-4 points that link to the keywords and question. If the question begins with a statement, you could think of two points that support it, and two that are against it for example. When thinking of your points, make sure that they are directly linked to the question. Be strict, and don't include points that you think are really good but may be irrelevant. For each point, think of 2-3 quotes that support it. They don't have to be long, but ensure you have quotes that you can easily analyse and interpret in a few different ways. It is also good to think of a couple of different critical quotes and contextual points that you can also include to demonstrate your wider reading. Once you have your points, arrange them in a logical order. Putting your simplest point first and moving towards your most complex one is a good idea. For each point, write a topic sentence that encapslates your idea, and includes either a key word from the question or a synonym to show the examiner that you are answering the question. Someone should be able to read just your topic sentences and get a good idea of what you are talking about in your essay. It is also useful to read your plan back, and perhaps write a few bullet point of any overarching themes that come across in all of your points- you can use these later in your conclusion. Don't write the introduction first, but instead leave a big space and write a paragraph for each of your points. Once you have finished the main body of your essay, read it through, and again make a note of any repeated themes. For the introduction, try and reference each of your points- it can be helpful to refer back to your topic sentences for this. The first sentence of your introduction should directly reference the question, and should make clear what you are going to argue. The introduction doesn't have to be long- often a few sentences is enough, but it should make clear to the examiner the path your essay will follow. The conclusion should follow a similar structure without being too repetative. In the conclusion, tie up any lose ends and acknowledge the common themes you identified earlier. Again ensure you directly reference the question throughout!