How should I best structure an essay?

There should be no surprises in your essay. Having read and understood the question, you should clearly set out what it is you are going to argue in the body of your essay in your introduction so as to be really clear. It is crucial to pick up on and respond to the question's specific wording eg. if the theme of an essay is about tragedy, it is important that you set out how tragedy is defined in the context of the literature, characters and how the author has achieved this effect. This is where you can find the detail, and your unique angle on the question. Having set out your argument, you should proceed to expand in clear paragraphs why and how it is that you have formed your opinion, using textual evidence and surrounding analysis to build your point. If other, perhaps unplanned interpretations occur to you then it might help to acknowledge them and weigh them up against your argument to show development in your analysis and a critical perspective: 'Whilst on first reading, Jane Eyre appears to be weak and consequently belittled by her step siblings, her independence of thought in fact marks her out as a strong and defiant character. This maturity is heightened by her close proximity to the petty and vindictive natures of the Reed children, shown by the quotations/dialogue:...'The conclusion of your essay should reiterate in brief, the points you have developed with a repetition of the wording of the question. If, due to a shortage of time, you have not been able to explore a particular point, it may be worth raising it in your conclusion to mark you out as an original and engaged candidate. However simplicity is key in these situations, so if you have been able to explore different angles and interpretations of the same scene/theme then clarify where you stand in your concluding thoughts.