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Where to Start: Plan the Essay
 
     

Understand Question
Plan Essay

Once you have the relevant material the next step is for you to organise your essay and plan it. You need to have all your ideas down in an organised format.This is done through an outline or diagram. There are other names for these. It is up to you to choose whichever you prefer or find easy to use. Remember that the ideas that you put down at this juncture are not binding and you may renew them as you go along. Have a look at the outline and diagram steps below:

Diagram Steps

  • Start your diagram in the middle of the page with a circle or a horizontal line or any shape you like.
  • Inside the shape or on the line, write your topic.
  • From the center of the shape or line, draw three or four lines out into the page. Spread these out.
  • At the end of each of these lines, draw another circle or horizontal line (or the shape you drew in the center of the page).
  • In each shape or on each line, write the main ideas that you have about your topic, or the main points that you want to make. For example if your aim is to persuade, you want to write your best arguments and if you wish to explain a process, you want to write the steps that should be followed. If you are trying to inform, you want to write the major categories into which your information can be divided.
  • From each of your main ideas, draw three or four lines out into the page.
    At the end of each of these lines, draw another circle or horizontal line or whatever you drew in the center of the page.
  • In each shape or on each line, write the facts or information that support that main idea.
    Adapted from Livingston Cathy "Essay Writing Basics"."

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Click below to see an example of a text from which a diagram is illustrated, please read the text before you look at the diagram.

Outline Steps

  • Begin your outline by writing the topic at the top of the page.
  • Next, write the Roman numerals I, II, and III, spread apart down the left side of the page.
  • Next to each Roman numeral, write the main ideas that you have on the topic, or the main points that you want to make according to the type of essay you are writing (these could be subheadings).

For more information on diagramming and the outline refer to "Note making tips".

Try the exercises.

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