How do I structure an essay?

Firstly, keep calm! This is your opportunity to have fun exploring your own ideas on paper. When you get the question, try to break it down. For example, if it's a "how far do you agree that..." question, you could compose your answer in 5 parts:1) Introduction: use your plan to write some sentences about what ideas you are going to explore and why.2) Argument 'for' the statement (e.g. I do agree with the statement because... give an example)3) A different argument 'for' the statement (e.g. I do agree for these other reasons, too)4) Argument 'against' the statement (e.g. However... - this is your plot twist moment! Come up with an argument that offers a different point of view; maybe the writer achieves the same effect through a different character / moment. Maybe you think the effect the writer achieves is more powerful than the essay question suggests)5) Conclusion: tie it all together. When you've finished stages 1-4, have a look at your concluding sentence to each point and try to bring them all together in a few sentences for your conclusion. Don't worry, it doesn't have to be very long, you've done all the hard work by this point!