What is the best way to structure an essay paragraph?

The Point Evidence Analysis Link (PEAL) is a pretty good approach. Your own writing style and preference may vary,but if you can (1) Make a simple point (2) Support it with textual or contextual evidence (3) Add a really strong close analysis (4) Round if off with a link back to your question, then your paragraph and argument will be consistently structured throughout your answer and you'll always have room to meet assessment criteria. This means that your reader (in your case, an examiner or teacher) can understand and engage with your answer -enabling them to focus on what you've said rather than the way you've said it and reward you top marks! We can always tinker with this structure to suit you and your current writing style too.