How can I ensure I have a strong argument running through my answer?

Examiners look for your essay to have a clear running argument throughout, and every point you make should be contributing obviously to your line of argument.

Use your introduction to set up your argument. Leave the examiner in no doubt as to what the opinion you shall be arguing is. Mark schemes often use the word 'driving' when describing how your argument should be in your answer. This means it must have direction, and must go somewhere. You need to develop your argument, starting by laying out the basic essence of your argument in the introduction. Once you have established the line of argument in the introduction, each paragraph following should develop the argument. You can do this by using 'sandwich' sentences at the beginning and end of your paragraph. This means you should begin your paragraph making a clear point, for example, in an essay about whether the Creature in Frankenstein is a villain or a victim, your first paragraph could start "Shelley gives the Creature his own narrative voice in order to allow the audience to empathise with him." You would then end this paragraph with a closing sandwich sentence such as "Shelley encases the Creature's narrative voice in the heart of the novel, allowing the reader to see him as a person, thus increasing the sympathy felt for the Creature. The reader then views the Creature as a victim and not a villain." Your line of argument is then clearly presented in this paragraph. Use the 'sandwich' structure for each paragraph, and then conclude your argument clearly in the conclusion. You should be able to simply read the introduction, each sandwich sentence and then your conclusion, and be able to coherently see what your line of argument is.