So…how many times have you stared at a blank piece of paper wondering what to write? Or how many times have you dived straight in with NO IDEA what you’re even going to write about?
Don’t worry, most of us have been there! Let’s look at how to structure an essay correctly! For even more help, download my free eBook – Essay Templates!
What is Structure?
Most of us are so focused on WHAT we should write, trying to brainstorm ideas and fill the page, that we forget to think about the ORDER in which we should write it! Structure is so important and can literally make or break your essay! It’s really important to structure your essay correctly!
So, let’s get started…
Firstly, there are two main ways you can structure a GCSE English essay:
Either a two-part structure looking at two different interpretations
Or one interpretation you spend the whole essay writing about
The second approach is more impressive if done well. Most grade 9 students take this approach. Most importantly, It’s also the style you will be expected to use for A Level and university essays! However, both of these approaches can work really well and I have given top grades to BOTH styles before.
Let’s see how they work…
The Two-Part Structure
Okay, so with this one you want to have two very different interpretations. Perhaps the first half looks at why Lord Capulet is the most responsible for the death of Romeo and Juliet. Then, the second half explores why the Friar could be the most responsible.
Most importantly, Throughout your answer you want to use tentative language (that simply means guess language such as could/might/possibly/perhaps) to demonstrate that this is a possible interpretation.
Furthermore, you don’t want to use direct and secure language when stating your interpretations otherwise you are going to entirely contradict yourself in the second half – not cool!
One option you can do is to add a conclusion at the end where you explore what you personally think. Examiners LOVE this because they like to see that students are responding to the texts personally and thinking about them – not just writing a generic answer their teacher told them!
One Interpretation
There’s no messing around with this one…you dive straight in! Firstly, you start your essay with a thesis statement which explains your personal interpretation. Examiners like this because it grabs their attention straight away and tells them you mean business.
The best answers will have a sophisticated interpretation, perhaps one that they have thought of themselves which goes beyond the generic approach.
Remember – if you want to get the grades that others don’t, you have to do something that others won’t! Make yourself stand out! The best way to do this is to think about why the writer is doing this and what they are saying about their society!
Example 1
‘Lord Capulet is the most responsible because he forces Julie to marry Paris and leaves her no choice other than to fake her death. This then leads to the deaths.’
In this example, the student has just answered the question. They’re not necessarily wrong but they just look at the characters at face value.
Example 2
‘The Capulet and Montague families are ultimately responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet and Shakespeare uses this play to shame oppressive Elizabethan parents at the time. He exposes the humanity and love that lies behind Elizabethan teenagers and reveals the suffocation they are subjected to through the parental pressure they are placed under. By telling us that the play is set in ‘fair Verona’ in the second line of play, Shakespeare effectively evades the censorship that would have been placed upon him at the time, diverting attention away from life in England whilst successfully challenging the unconscious beliefs of his audience members and striving for a more free and empathetic society.’
In this one, the student has looked at how the author is USING the characters to convey a message. In other words, it’s not just a nice book about characters, the characters are being used for a specific purpose! To understand more about to write about context, check out: How to write about context in an GCSE essay.
How to access the Top Bands!
Some students simply look at the characters and themes in the text and talk about them whilst others go beyond that and look for the impulse and instinct which made the writer want to write it in the first place…and those students score top grades. They understand the purpose of literature!
The famous Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley once said:
‘Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world’
…and I don’t think he was far wrong! Writers often write because they want to challenge and change their societies in profound ways!
Finally, how you start your essay will set the tone for the rest of your answer so start strong! The rest of your essay will consist of point paragraphs designed to back up and support the original claim you made. In other words, you’ve put your stake in the ground, now you need to convince me why you’re right!
To learn more about the grading system, check out the AQA Mark Scheme!
So, there you have it Are you using one of these already? Is it time to think a little more carefully about how you’re structuring your essay or is it time to take it from a two-step interpretation to a thesis approach? Only you can decide which one is right for you based on your own personal preferences, ability level and the specific question you are dealing with. Good luck and have fun experimenting with essay writing structure!