How can my essays be structured so that I can bridge the gap between a solid A and an A*?

English literature tends to be one of the more ubiquitous subjects, but is nonetheless harder to get a solid grip on how to really stand out - making points and analysing texts in a way that really set a candidate apart from the rest. Undoubtedly, the most important thing for any English literature student is reading - by far the easiest way to get a grasp on a certain period (A-level English tends to be based around periods in English literature) is by reading as much as possible, constantly comparing and contrasting new texts with those already at hand. To supplement this, it's also incredibly important at A-level to read criticism on studied texts - this is often taken for granted by those fortunate enough to have teachers who provide them with tools and extra reading, but it's often forgotten or ignored by the vast majority of students. Bridging the gap to a higher grade becomes so much easier as soon as the student has a grasp of not only the period, but also of interpretations of the text over time -for example, the way the interpretation of Hamlet has changed since its earliest performances to the advent of Freudian psychoanalysis and the rise of feminism and Marxism. Making a student more grounded in the period by way of extra reading and teaching about various interlinked periods in history is essential to bridge this gap - and becomes particularly important for students who are already at a solid level of essay writing and textual analysis.
An essay needs to be concise - 'waffle' is the curse of every student trying to fill as many pages as possible, but it really is a relief when students realise that writing less but in a better, more concise way will bring them improved results.
Of course, everything depends on exam board - but broadly an A* is within reach for anyone if certain schematic but rigorous steps are kept to.