Brainstorming and Outlining - ISEE Lower Level: Essay

A brief personal example with concrete details (who, what, when). Concrete details in personal examples provide vivid, credible support that elevates vague assertions.

Replace one reason with a distinct reason that supports the thesis. Distinct reasons prevent redundancy, ensuring varied support that strengthens the thesis comprehensively.

Thesis plus two reasons, each with a specific example. Expanding with a thesis and supported reasons transforms a vague plan into a structured, effective outline.

Two body paragraphs with one main reason each. Limiting to two body paragraphs allows sufficient depth within time constraints while maintaining focus.

Identify the task and write a clear position or main idea. Starting with prompt analysis and a defined stance ensures the response is targeted and purposeful from the outset.

To organize ideas into a clear, logical plan for paragraphs. Outlining structures brainstormed concepts into a coherent framework, ensuring logical flow and focused paragraph development.

Freewriting (rapid listing of ideas without judging them). Freewriting encourages unrestricted idea generation to uncover diverse perspectives efficiently.

One clear reason plus a specific supporting example. Incorporating a targeted rationale with concrete evidence strengthens the paragraph's contribution to the overall thesis.

Select ideas that most directly support your thesis and prompt. Prioritizing ideas based on thesis relevance ensures the outline is cohesive and directly responsive to the prompt.

A specific personal observation, experience, or plausible scenario. Personal or hypothetical specifics provide relatable, credible support suitable for opinion-based essays.

They are specific and clearly connected to the reason. Specificity and direct linkage enhance persuasiveness by making arguments vivid and logically tied to the point.

Choose the two strongest reasons with the clearest examples. Selecting top ideas maintains essay quality and feasibility under time limits by focusing on robust support.

An opposing view; use briefly only if it strengthens your main point. Counterarguments add depth but should be concise in short essays to reinforce rather than dilute the primary stance.

Introduce the topic and state the thesis clearly. The introduction sets context and presents the thesis to guide readers effectively from the start.

Restate the thesis and leave a final, relevant closing thought. The conclusion reinforces the main argument and provides a memorable wrap-up to solidify the essay's message.

B) School uniforms should be required. Option B offers a specific, arguable position that directly addresses a potential prompt on uniforms.

Uniforms reduce distractions by keeping students focused on learning. This topic sentence clearly articulates the reason while explaining its benefit for focused paragraph development.

A) Two reasons that both support the thesis. Thesis-aligned reasons create a unified, logical structure essential for a persuasive two-paragraph body.

Topic sentence, evidence/example, explanation, closing sentence. This structure ensures each paragraph presents a focused argument with support and closure for clarity.

T-chart (pros vs. cons or option A vs. option B). A T-chart systematically contrasts elements, aiding in balanced evaluation of arguments or options.

Webbing (mind mapping ideas into connected clusters). Webbing visually connects concepts, revealing relationships and facilitating organized idea grouping.

One sentence stating your main point and direction of the essay. A thesis provides a concise, guiding assertion that encapsulates the essay's central argument and structure.

To generate relevant ideas and examples quickly before drafting. Brainstorming enables the swift gathering of pertinent thoughts to build a foundation for the essay without premature evaluation.