How should I structure my essays?

One thing to remember with essay structure, is that there is ‘more than one way to skin a cat’. Everyone will have their own unique style, and two answers which seem quite different can get the same mark. However, there is a simple ‘template’ for an essay at GCSE level which which helps get you tip top marks and is particularly useful when you’re under time constraints (in an exam for example). The first key point is a simple one, but surprisingly easy to forget: use paragraphs! A big long passage of text can be difficult for the examiner to read, and sectioning up your essay also helps make your argument clearer and well-structured (which will help get you marks). A great teacher once told me that a good way to think about essays is: ‘tell them what you’re going to tell them, then tell them, and, finally, tell them what you’ve told them’. It sounds very basic, but it is honestly a great saying to keep in your head as you plan and write. Your first paragraph should be an introduction – this is where you ‘tell them what you’re going to tell them’. It should be brief and to-the-point (maybe two to three sentences, not much more) and outline some basic details about the text (when it was written, who by) and, most importantly, explain what your essay is going to do: What are you investigating? What is the overall big point that you are making? In a ‘how far do you agree?’ style question say exactly how far: use terms like ‘to a significant/small/large extent’ or ‘there is weak/ample evidence that…’. Your middle section should go be filled with what’s called ‘the main body’ of your argument. This is where you ‘tell them’! Each point (you may have three or four) should have its own paragraph, and contain elements of the PEEL sentence structure, which you may already be familiar with: P – Point – Make a statement about the text which relates to your essay question. For example, if the question is ‘Discuss the representation of Curley’s wife in Of Mice and Men’, your first point might be: ‘Curley’s wife is presented in a sexual way.’ E – Evidence – This is where you use a quotation from the text, to support the statement you have made. For example, using the question example used above you might say: ‘Curley’s wife is described as having ‘got the eye’, she wears red, and is called a ‘tramp’ by George.’ Here, you may also wish to use some context, either from the novel, or from the era it was written. What were gender roles like in the era of the Great Depression in the United States? Does Curley’s wife role as the only woman on the ranch come into play here? E – Explanation – Next you should explain why the textual evidence you have found (E) supports your point (P). For example, you could analyse the phrase ‘got the eye’, which is a modern, colloquial (casual speech) version of the clichéd phrase ‘a wandering eye’, which refers to a woman who flirts with or admires men who aren’t her husband. You could also explain how the word ‘tramp’ is a pejorative (negative) term for a sexual woman, common in 1930s dialect. L – Link – Finally, you should link your beautifully structured P, E, and E back to the question. This is really important as it keeps your argument focused. So, again using the above example, you might say, ‘It is thus clear that Steinbeck intended the character of Curley’s wife to be presented as an object of sexual attraction in the novella.’ This is where your paragraph would end and you would move onto the next one, using PEEL again. Your next point (P) might be ‘Curley’s wife is presented as dangerous’, and you would then find the textual evidence to support this (E), explain that evidence (E), and finally, link your point back to the question! Simple, isn’t it? Once you’ve made all your points (as I’ve said you may make about three or four, but this really depends on what you want to say and how much time you have), it is time for your conclusion. This is where you ‘tell them what you’ve told them.’ So, using poor old Curley’s wife again, we might begin: ‘In conclusion, Steinbeck’s presentation of Curley’s wife is not a wholly positive one. She is presented as a sexualised object of male attention, a flirt, and a danger to herself and others. However ,he also extends a sympathy towards her, and emphasises her vulnerability’. You get the picture! Your essay would be much better than this (it’s been a while since I’ve read this book), but I promise that putting your own thoughts and analysis into this very simple structure will get you top marks! So just to recap: An introduction – ‘tell them what you’re going to tell them.’ Some body paragraphs – ‘tell them’, using PEEL for each paragraph. A Conclusion – ‘tell them what you’ve told them’. When you glance back over your essay it should seem like you have stuck nice and close to what the question has asked you to do. When you are passionate about a text, or simply know a lot about it, it can be easy to go off on a tangent and discuss things which are not relevant (trust me, I still find myself doing it now in my university dissertation)! I hope this has been clear and helpful. Let me know if there are any points you want made clearer, or if you would like me to go through an example-essay with you, where we fill in this ‘template’ together.