What Makes a Good Essay?
A good essay about a book or poem is like building a house. You need strong foundations (your main ideas), solid walls (your evidence and examples), and a finished roof (your conclusion). It's not just about saying whether you liked the story or poem—it's about explaining why in a clear, organised way that persuades your reader.
Think of it like proving to a friend that your favourite film is brilliant. You don't just say 'it's the best!'—you point out specific scenes that made you laugh, characters you loved, and why the story matters.
Start With a Strong Plan
Before you write a single sentence, spend 10 minutes planning. Read the question carefully. What is it actually asking you? Are you exploring a character's motivation, analysing poetic techniques, or discussing a theme? Write down 3-4 main ideas you want to discuss, then find specific quotes or examples from the text that support each one. This is your skeleton—everything else hangs off it.
Structure Matters Enormously
Follow this simple structure: Introduction (answer the question and introduce your ideas), 3-4 main body paragraphs (one big idea per paragraph, with evidence), and Conclusion (summarise your argument). Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence that says what the paragraph is about. Then add quotes or examples from the text. Finally, explain the quote—don't just dump it in and hope it makes sense.
Think of it like explaining a recipe. You need to say what ingredient goes in (the quote), show how much (the evidence), and explain why it matters to the final dish (your interpretation).
Use Quotations Cleverly
Don't quote huge chunks. Instead, use short, sharp quotes that prove your point. For example: In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare shows Romeo's recklessness when he says he'll 'die joyfully' for Juliet—this tells us he values love more than life. See how the quote is woven into the sentence? That's the trick.
Find Your Own Voice
You're not trying to sound like Shakespeare or a university professor. Use clear, confident language. Say what you think, but back it up with evidence. Phrases like 'This suggests that...' and 'The writer creates...' and 'This shows the reader that...' help you sound thoughtful and analytical without being pompous.
Edit and Improve
Your first draft won't be perfect, and that's normal. Read it aloud. Does it flow? Are your ideas clear? Have you answered the original question? Fix spelling and grammar. A well-written essay with clear thinking always scores higher than a messy one with clever ideas.