How would I plan the essay 'Explore Shakespeare's presentation of death in Hamlet'?

When you plan an English Literature essay, you should always start by finding evidence. Go back to the play and find everything that could connect to the theme of death -- make sure that the quotes you choose are not just from one act / scene, and also that they are not just from one character. For Hamlet, it is especially important to talk about and use quotes from characters that are not always Hamlet himself! Collate the quotes you find on a mind map. Mind maps are great for memory, as they act as pictures you can visualise and recreate. Have 'death' in the centre and each quote placed around it with arrows. Then, around each quote, write anything that comes to mind about it. Be as 'abstract' as you like at first -- try and always take your inference one step further than the 'obvious'. From this exercise you should begin to see points emerging and quotes that link together. You should aim to find 3 points to make in your essay from your inference of the quotes. Finally, consider how your 3 points could link to make an overarching statement. Perhaps they all suggest that death is inevitable in Hamlet, as it is needed to purge the court of corruption? Or perhaps Shakespeare is using death in Hamlet to undermine class boundaries, suggesting that 'a king may go a progress through the guts of a beggar' (4.3)? You will find that from your analysis of the quotes, this statement will become clear -- then make sure that you are constantly linking back to this throughout your essay.