How do I approach an essay?

Don’t panic! Breathe… Don’t let yourself get swept up in a wave of panic and don’t let yourself be consumed by negative thoughts: “I haven’t revised this, I’m going to fail”. Take a (mental) step back, take a deep breath, and remind yourself of the hard work you’ve put into your subject. Read the question more than once. Look at each word and make sure you read the whole thing SLOWLY. If you rush, you risk losing your understanding of what the question is asking you to do. Plan a quick answer. Jot down some valuable things – how you intend to approach the essay, the purpose of the extract, for example, the intended audience, any language or literary features, etc. Don’t get carried away - keep your plan short. Answer the question – and stick to your plan where you can! If you spot new things that can add to your points: great, put them in! And remember: always link back your points to the effect it has on the extract. Reflection – when you finish, look back over it. Read your essay and go through it with a fine comb when you finish and correct anything that needs correcting. Good luck!