How do I structure my essay answers?

Generally, the best essay structures include an introduction, where you introduce the main argument or message of your essay; the main body, which is your argument; and a strong conclusion which summarises your essay and 'wraps it up' for the reader. A conclusion should not include any new points, but it will refer back to points made in the main body of text. You can use your introduction as a guide to your conclusion, as you may use the conclusion as a means to prove you have accomplished a thesis set out in your introductory paragraph.

As for individual paragraphs within your essay, a good structuring method is the 'PEE' method - this stands for point, evidence and explanation. The point is self-explanatory: here you state the point, the main idea of the argument you intend to explore in this paragraph. After you have outlined your point, you must provide evidence from the text to support your argument. This can be a quotation or a reference to a specific event in the text. Lastly, explain how your point relates to the essay question and pick out any literary techniques that are relevant to your point.