How can I prepare to write an essay?

The preparation for writing an essay is incredibly important in allowing you to structure your work in a way that is engaging, readable and above all, well set out, so that your own thoughts and analysis can shine through. It can seem daunting writing an essay plan, as this seems like more work on top of the essay itself, however a well thought out plan can save time and stress in the long run.

If you are a visual person, perhaps make a mind map of all of the themes and topics in your chosen texts: connect links between different ideas and see where thoughts naturally go to. These will eventually make up your paragraphs.

It can also be a good idea to format your essay by listing your paragraphs with their own individual sub-headers, starting with your 'Introduction' and finishing with your 'Conclusion'.

Try and be strict with yourself and stick to your essay plan - this will help to avoid waffling and straying away from your core ideas and points of analysis.

Remember to refer back to your essay plan whilst writing to cement your ideas and before you know it, even writing essays in exam conditions will seem easier because of past essay plan practice.