Essay writing at A-Level

An essay at A level should have three components, which are: Introduction; Body; Conclusion.

Introduction
An introduction should introduce us to what you are going to discuss in the essay . This introduction should be brief and straight to the point. It should touch important points that you will discuss in the essay. It should have a judgement, depending on the question. In your introduction don’t quote or give examples.

Body
In your body use the PEEL Method. P.. topic point/Sentence; E.. Explain; E. Examplify; L.. Linkage.
Your point should be a point that brings an argument. It should not be an obvious point. After that point you explain your topic point. You can explain in four to five sentences. After your explanation you then Examplify; give an example. This can be done in four ways. These are:
Names/places eg Louis xvi or Versailles; Dates eg 1789; Statistics/Figures eg 4000 people died; Quotations from the textbooks eg According to MUSO or Richards. After that you link your points to the opening sentenced.. this/therefore/ hence. This is what should be done in a proper paragraph. Make sure your points are linking , there’s coherence and relevance.

Conclusion
You can conclude using the following terms: In a nutshell. To conclude. In conclusion. To sum up. Etc. Your conclusion should be short. 2-3 sentences are enough as your conclusion.
Dr Manners Msongelwa is the president of History Teachers of Zimbabwe and a Teacher at Camelot College in Kwekwe.