This book is a superb all-in-one guide to success GCSE English Language and English Literature - GCSE English 2003

Structure Your Essay
Section Six — Arguing and Analysing

You know you're right — you just have to persuade everyone else you're right.

You need a good argument and lots of evidence or no one's going to believe you.

Keep your Essay Structured

To achieve this you need a clear structure.

1) Work out a plan — decide on your main points, then spend about five minutes using them to form a plan like the one below. A plan will help organise your thinking into paragraphs. You need to write in paragraphs to get grade C or above.

2) Don't keep repeating the same idea — organise your essay into 3 or 4 key ideas and use your plan to put them in order.

3) Fill in the gaps — once you've got a plan you can see where to fit in bits of evidence, facts, opinions, etc. and where you need more ammunition.

Structure is all-important

Plan what to write and write what you planned so there's no way that your essay can stray off the point. The examiner won't be spending hours reading your essays — you need to be clear and precise.