How Should I Plan an Essay in the Exam?

There are many different ways you can plan an essay response in exam situations and each person will approach it slightly differently. I advise you to practice planning in timed conditions and explore lots of different methods: mindmapping, idea listing, writing a table. However, written below is the method I use and one I suggest is worth considering. Let’s give the example essay question: ‘Compare the presentation of women’s experiences in Wuthering Heights and Tess of the D’Urbervilles’. First, I would highlight the key terms in the question (Compare the presentation of women’s experiences in Wuthering Heights and Tess of the D’Urbervilles’). This would make sure the focus on comparison and the central theme of women’s experiences. I would then note down my main argument in the form of a thesis statement: a clear sentence that details my main response to the question (both texts present women’s experiences as fundamentally destructive due to patriarchal power structures). Then, I would make note of points that support this central argument (Tess’s tragic downfall is instigated by her rape; Catherine must marry Edgar to fulfill societal expectations of women, this leads to her mental instability). Next, I would play ‘devils advocate’ and note a counter argument (in each novel, women’s experiences are only destructive because of the female characters intrinsic flaws). As before, I would note down points that support this counter argument yet also note weaknesses in these points to ensure my main argument dominates (Tess’s shame leads to her misery- but this shame stems from her rape; Catherine does choose to marry Edgar she is not forced- but if she had married Heathcliff she would have been impoverished so society forces her decision). Finally, I would return to my thesis statement to remind myself of the central argument of my essay, and the point my conclusion should return to. This method ensures you do not ignore any of the key terms the questioning is asking you to deal with whilst making sure your essay is balanced with a focus on one central argument- all the core components needed to write a great essay!