How to structure an essay

Start with an introduction where you give a brief summary of the events and main themes of the novel then refer to the question you are going to answer and how you plan to answer it (e.g. through looking at key scenes or key characters). Next, have two or three paragraphs using a P.E.E. structure (point, evidence, explanation). Make your point, back it up with evidence from the text, and explain how it refers to/answers your essay question.

Finally, your conclusion should not just summarize your essay but evaluate it, linking your topic to a wider concern which is perhaps prevalent in the novel or how the characters/events of the novel have been effected by the topic you discussed.

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Answered by Alison B. English Literature tutor

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