What are the tenets of an excellent English essay?

English essays differ from other arts-subject essays in that there is a particular emphasis on style: the way in which you use language is vital. Essays must be rhetorically convincing, take the form of a logical argument, and above all else, be genuinely interesting. The most interesting essays are the ones that take risks and stray from the typical A- Level 'essay structure guide'. Perhaps open with a quote, always avoid the phrase 'in conclusion...', and be succinct. For creating innovative content, be conversant in contemporary criticism: look at credible journal articles online (e.g. Jstor) and synthesise your close reading with social and critical theory (such as feminism, structuralism, psychoanalytics). By dipping into other areas of knowledge your essays will become much more relevant on the critical field.