What are the first steps to write a successful short essay on a work of the syllabus? [A-level French Literature]

The A-level french examination usually contains a section where Cinematographic or Literary works are engaged with, over the course of one or two years, culminating in a final essay question on one of the works. This section is set up in order to test both reading comprehension and written expression and its preparation should be approached methodically. Below you will find the general goals set by the examining platforms and my advice on how to successfully attain them.
The ideal essay (according to the AQA, awarding body, guidelines) should match the following standards in expression and appropriation of the material:The language produced is mainly accurate with only occasional minor errors. The student shows a consistently secure grasp of grammar and is able to manipulate complex language accurately. The student uses a wide range of vocabulary appropriate to the context and the task. Excellent critical and analytical response to the question set. Knowledge of the text or film is consistently accurate and detailed. Opinions, views and conclusions are consistently supported by relevant and appropriate evidence from the text or film. The essay demonstrates excellent evaluation of the issues, themes and the cultural and social contexts of the text or film studied
The first step to fulfil the above is to train your expression through intensive writing. Having chosen French at A-levels you probably are already familiar with the language and its basic vocabulary, incrementing your practice of the language will therefore be dependent on how you can make use of what you have acquired through writing and grammatical exercises. The first piece of advice is therefore to never stop writing as it will, through the corrections you make of your own work, help you to see your main errors and avoid them when in the exam.
The second step, to be undertaken in conjunction with the first, is to gain great familiarity with the works on the syllabus. You should engage with the work not only by reading it (and this preferably more than once) but also by acquainting yourself with analyses of it, extracting the major themes it covers and having a grasp of every character. As questions on the text will often ask you to develop on the nature of the relationships between the characters or on recurring symbols that permeate the text. The second piece of advice is therefore to go beyond the first read and to take notes or make flashcards on salient aspects of the prose.