How should a comparative essay be structured?

All essays should begin with a introduction. In English Literature it is a good idea to use this to introduce your two texts, their authors, date of publication, and contextual factors (if an assessment objective) as well as giving an overveiw of how they both fit into the theme of the topic (relationships, war, dystopia etc). If aiming for a top grade, you will need to begin comparing in your introduction the context of the initial publication and how that may have effected the author's views and writing. After that, you should follow the paragraphing pattern 'PEACC' (point, evidence, analysis, context, comparison). Using the novels 'A Handmaids Tale' by Margaret Atwood and 'Frankenstein' by Mary Shelly we can create an example paragraph for the question ' How do both authors use structure within their novels?' So our starting POINT may be that Atwood names every other section of her novel 'Night' where the protagonist reflects on her thoughts, feelings, and past. Then we may EVIDENCE this with the quote 'I have nothing to write with and writing is in any case forbidden. But if it's a story, even in my head, I must be telling it to someone'. Here we may pick out the use of the word 'storytelling' and its connotations for fairy tales, and fiction. Then we should ANALYSE why this is important (e.g.: 'Offred finds comfort in telling herself stories of half- truths at night as this is the only time she has any sort of freedom albeit only in her mind. Therefore the reoccurrence of the 'Night' sections mirrors the feeling of consistency that night also brings Offred thus helping the reader to empathise with her.'). We should also use CONTEXT to explain the writers motives. For this example we could uses the inspiration of Orwell's 1985 and the 'thought police' which may have helped Atwood to create her world in which reading and writing are banned in order to prevent the spreading of rebellions. Finally you should use a major COMPARISON to your other novel to begin your next paragraph. We could link this to Shelley's structure by saying 'Shelley also uses structure to delve deeper into the protagonists thoughts and feelings however she employs the different technique of a V-shape structure'. Finally you should conclude your essay and for a top grade, leave the examiner with a profound and original suggestion or critique of the novels. For example, you could criticise Shelley's feminism as it centres on women's purity and morality, a concept later feminists have argued to be sexist.