How should I structure my answers?

The formula that I used all throughout GCSE and A-Levels is a very simple one, and I'm sure teachers have explained this, or some variant of it, to you: point, evidence, explain. It is simple, yet so many people fail to adhere to this fundamental technique. First, identify the point you would like to write a paragraph on in response to the question. An example of how to word this would be 'Shakespeare presents Lady MacBeth as being a powerful woman through...' with your point taking the place of the ellipses. Secondly, use the text to provide evidence for your point, which should be quite simple if you have already come up with a point you would like to write about. Make sure your evidence is in quotation marks if you are directly referencing a specific segment of the text. Finally, explaining your point. This is best divided into two parts: analysis and significance. Your analysis should be explaining to the examiner how your evidence links to your point, and is best done by analysing the quotation you have used and picking it apart; show the examiner that the evidence you are using is relevant to your point, perhaps through the use of literary devices, or linguistic features. The second part is explaining the significance of your analysis, essentially linking it back to the question being asked. The best way to start this off is to write 'this is significant because' or a variant of that. In your explanation, be sure to refer to the wording of the question and try your best to connect the dots; do not presume the examiner knows exactly what you are trying to say!