Planning & Brainstorming
How to plan your essay in 5 min
Why Plan? (And Why 5 Min Max)
- 1A plan prevents you from going off-topic mid-essay.
- 2A plan helps you choose your BEST two arguments â not just the first two that come to mind.
- 3Students who plan write more coherently and finish on time.
- 45 minutes is enough â write key words, not sentences.
- 5Write your plan directly on the exam paper (it's not marked, but it helps you).
The 5-Minute Planning Method
Read the question TWICE. Underline the KEY TOPIC and the TASK (agree/disagree/discuss).
Identify the essay type (Opinion / Discussion / Problem-Solution / Two-Part).
Write your THESIS in 5 words: e.g. "strongly agree â individual responsibility"
Choose 2 body arguments. For each: write the POINT + one EXAMPLE (real or invented).
Think of your conclusion: restate your thesis in different words.
Planning Template
Q Type
Opinion / Discussion / Problem-Solution / Two-Part
My Thesis
I [strongly / partly] agree/disagree because ___
Body 1 Point
Key idea: ___ Example: ___
Body 2 Point
Key idea: ___ Example: ___
Conclusion
Therefore, it is clear that ___
Brainstorm for Any Topic
- 1Ask: WHO is affected? (individuals, governments, society, future generations)
- 2Ask: WHERE does this happen? (developed vs. developing countries, urban vs. rural)
- 3Ask: WHEN did this change? (before and after technology/industrialization)
- 4Ask: WHY does this happen? (economic, social, environmental, political causes)
- 5Ask: WHAT is the impact? (short-term vs. long-term, local vs. global)
Tip: If you can't think of a real example, use a hypothetical one: "For instance, a young professional who...". Examiners cannot verify examples â a relevant invented one is fine.
Strong vs. Weak Arguments
WEAK: "Technology is bad because it causes problems." (vague, no development)
STRONG: "Excessive screen time has been linked to reduced attention spans in children, as studies show that young people who spend over 4 hours daily on devices perform worse in concentration tests."
WEAK: "The government should do something about pollution."
STRONG: "Governments could introduce carbon taxes to incentivise businesses to adopt cleaner production methods, as evidenced by Sweden's successful carbon pricing scheme."
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