An essay needs to be well structured as well as answering the question in its title. Learn how to write an essay in this Bitesize English video for KS3.

Identifying and using key words When you read an essay question or title you need to identify the key words, particularly the word or phrase that tells you the topic to focus on.

A good editor can help edit a long essay to keep the main message but with fewer words. “If I see 400 words, I know I’m a dozen drafts away from getting it to 650,” he says.