[though i imagine by the time you see this it'll be too late. erm. sorry.]

but also i think it's sometimes worth taking a blank sheet of paper, and just, completely ignoring yr first draft [if it's that fucked up, at least], outline a basic plan for answering the essay again, as if you hadn't already. do that from scratch and make sure it makes sense.

then go through yr essay, and compare notes. do you like your new plan more? if so, pull out the bits of the first draft that are relevant/useful/reworkable. different coloured highlighters are always good under these circumstances. make sure they're all the same size though, otherwise it's just distracting. </ocd>

I was on the bus the other day sat next to a woman who was reading. I started to read a line or two and thought it was badly written and then I realised it was the da vinci code. I haven't read it myself but I wouldn't want to.

I personally hate the buy-it-because-it-has-a-booker-sticker-mentality that affects people who read once in a blue moon. So not being bothered to find an author that appeals of sight they just grab one of these prize winning books.