The argumentative essay rewards structure more than eloquence. Examiners read hundreds of essays in a day, and the ones with a clear thesis, three distinct supporting points, and a memorable last sentence stand out without needing to be beautiful.
Open with a one-sentence thesis in the first paragraph. State the position you are taking. Do not begin with a rhetorical question — every fourth essay begins that way and none of them earn full marks.
Each body paragraph should have one claim, one strong example (historical, literary, or contemporary — vary these across the three), and one sentence tying the example back to your thesis.
The closing paragraph is not a summary. It is where the thesis becomes a wider point about society, character, or knowledge. One aphoristic sentence — quoted or your own — then stop.
Handwriting matters. Not calligraphy — legibility, consistent size, straight lines. If an examiner has to strain to read you, you are already down a point.