How do I answer a 'to what extent' question?

You need to do two things here. Firstly, you need to have a clear opinion and argument. The reader should get to the end of your essay and know what it is YOU think in how far the statement stands. Think of the essay as a landscape. In the introduction, think about signposting the landscape - you use signposts to point where you are going to go. Then, in the conclusion, describe what you can see having explored this landscape. Sum up the essay and be very clear as to how far you agree with what the question suggests.Secondly, you need to show a recognition of the other side of the argument. You can do this without undermining your argument. Use key phrases such as 'some would argue', 'whilst', 'admittedly'. This acknowledges to the reader that this is not what you think; but there are other perspectives available. This strengthens your argument because it shows that whilst there are other views available, you have chosen yours based on its strength.