Planning an essay

For many writers, starting an essay is the hardest part. Brainstorming helps: thinking freely about a topic and writing down every idea that comes to mind. You can brainstorm alone on paper, or with a group.

One way is a brainstorming web: write the topic in a circle in the middle of the page, and put down every idea around it as it comes, in any order. Do not judge the ideas yet; just collect them.

Then select the useful points (not every idea needs to go into the essay), and expand each one into a sentence.

Begin the essay with a definition or a short description of the topic. For an essay on hobbies, for example, start by saying what a hobby is.

Then group related sentences into paragraphs, each with one main idea.