How should I structure my paragraphs?

English essays should be natural rather than forced, so it can be difficult to come up with a fixed structure to apply to every paragraph. However, there are some useful tips and pointers that can be used:

1. Keep in mind your assessment objectives. You don't need to cover every one of these in each paragraph, but you should be mindful of them and make sure that you have enough in your essay overall.

2. Open your paragraphs with a powerful and punchy sentence which clearly outlines what your point is. If you struggle to do this maybe you need to narrow down your focus - you should always be able to define what the paragraph is about.

3. Always include some analysis of your quotations. It can be tempting to insert them and carry on to the next point, but a lot of your marks will come from textual analysis. This can be brief and concise, but make sure you cover it!

4. Finish your paragraphs by linking back to the question. This may seem obvious but in exam circumstances it can be very easy to forget! If possible, you should also highlight any links the point may have with other paragraphs so as to show the tight focus of your entire essay.