Essay skills · Both
Literature Essay Structure
A literature essay is an argument about the text in response to a question. Structure keeps that argument readable under time pressure.
Simple reliable structure
1. **Introduction** – short: focus of the question + overall argument
2. **Paragraphs** – each one clear point, evidence, analysis, link back
3. **Conclusion** – answer the question directly; no new random points
Quality of analysis > number of paragraphs.
Introductions
Avoid retelling the whole plot.
Do: name the text/writer if needed, address the question focus, outline your line of argument in 2–3 sentences.
Worked example
Opening approach?
Solution: “[Writer] presents [focus] as… Throughout the text, … is shown through…, suggesting…”
Practice questions
1. What belongs in a literature introduction?
2. What does each main paragraph need?