How should I structure an essay comparing two texts?

There are two main ways of doing this, and you can pick whichever you think will work for you. The first is structuring your response 'by issue': each of your sections will focus on a certain point of comparison, like narration, themes, etc - you begin with the 'issue' and explain how it is handled differently (or similarly!) by the two texts. Another way is to write about each of the texts in separate sections, instead of weaving them together in one paragraph: this is more of an A-B-A-B structure - you write about how an issue is explored in one text, follow with a comparative paragraph about the other text, and continue with this pattern throughout. If you decide to use this approach, it's important to include linking words so that your answer appears cohesive; your final paragraph should summarise the comparisons discussed.

LW

Related English A Level answers

All answers ▸

How can I write a strong introduction to an unseen text exam question?


Analyse Philip Larkin's poem 'Here'. Your response must include a detailed discussion of how meanings are shaped in the poem.


How do I write a good essay?


How does Ezra Pound use absence in his 1913 poem 'In a Station of the Metro'?