Purpose: To analyse a book or poem with reference to a specific thesis statement.
Introduction: Introduce the book and context, create interest and present a thesis statement to discuss.
Body: Presents the evidence which supports the thesis statement.
Conclusion: Shows how the evidence has confirmed the thesis statement.
Language: Clear signposting. Paraphrase or quote the original text as the evidence.
Other considerations: We can assume the reader knows the character and the book. We do not, therefore, need to summarize the plot. Note that while this essay type discusses the book, the character analysis essay is quite similar in format but narrower in scope since it discusses only the development of a character.