What is the best way to structure an essay?

The most common way to structure an essay is using the PEEL method, which stands for Point, Evidence, Explanation and Link. This is the easiest method to follow as it provides a clear framework that can be applied to any essay. Firstly, you state your Point. For example, "The author of this passage uses the weather to convey the mood of the persona." This is followed by providing examples to support this point, such as "the ashy rain clouds thundered down". Next, is the most important part, the analysis. This is the largest part of the paragraph where you will be expected to take apart the examples you have provided and discuss how these link to your thesis statement. An example would be "The author deploys dark adjectives and uses powerful verbs such as "thundered" creating a sombre yet mysterious atmosphere. These techniques support the pathetic fallacy which embodies the persona's depressed mood, foreshadowing the changes about to come." The final sentence also presents itself to be the Link, which works powerfully to convey your key message for that paragraph.