Look at the marking scene. If there are three questions in one and say 20 marks. How do you think those marks are distributed across the essay? Maybe 5, 10, 5 or 6,6,8 or 2, 5, 13?
Then think about how you will get those marks. So if it is likely to be 5, 10, 5 think of 7 really good points to make for the first bit, 12 for the middle bit, then 7 for the last (the reason for going over is you might be wrong in the allocation or one of the points you make isn’t in the marking scheme.
If there is no marking scheme think if you were marking the essay, what would you give points for? How many? What would impress you?
Then find some evidence to back up your claims.
Not time to do your first draft,
Don’t start with the introduction.
Start with the first point you want to make. Tell yourself, “I’ll just write one sentence” and write it. You may find you want to carry on after that, but if not, take five minutes then say “I’ll just write one more sentence” and see if that gets the thoughts flowing.
Then start working out how you will get the other marks. Write the paragraphs. How will you like it together?
Write the introduction last because then you know what you’re introducing.
Congratulations you’ve finished your first draft.
Put it to one side snd the next day read it out loud. This will help you spot grammatical errors and woolly phrases do you can edit.