How should I structure a GCSE style English Literature essay?

As with any essay, you should start with an introduction that directly addresses and answers the given question, and outlines in brief the points your essay will explore. A little background knowledge here wityh regard to the wider debate surrounding the question is also useful. When you come to writing your conclusion at the end of the essay, this should mirror your introduction, summerising what the essay has said and directly and concisely answering its question. Introductions and conclusions should be kept to only four or five lines each, with perhaps slightly more leant to the introuction.

As for the bulk of the essay, this should be made up for two or three paragraphs making in full the points that your have outlined in your introduction. Ideally these points will express two sides of an argument, addressing each others' weaknesses and countering their proposals. This cross referencing of your points is vital to a top-band essay. The points themselves are generally most easily structured in PEEL style: 'Point, Evidence, Explain, Link'. The start of the paragraph should make a point, then some evidence should be found for it in the text you are studying, which you should then explain and analyse as fully as you can (this is where the most marks are picked up) as to how it helps answer the question. The end of the paragraph should link directy back to the question, as well as the point that was made at its beginning.