How should I structure my Critical Essay?

You should always begin your Critical Essay with an introduction. This should refer to the question in your own words and prepare the reader for the argument that you are going to make in the following paragraphs. You should refer to the techniques that the author has used to achieve the effects that you will be analysing and set out the points you are going to make.

You can structure the main body of your essay using the PEAL structure (Point, Evidence, Analysis, Link). This keeps your essay focused and relevant to the question and makes sure that you don't miss out any information that might strengthen your argument.

Your essay should end with an effective conclusion. It should show how you have answered the original question and summarise the main points of your argument. You should also show that you understand the message and the wider significance of the text.