1. BUILDING EFFECTIVE ESSAY OUTLINES

2. WHAT IS IT? WHY HAVE IT?
An essay plan is simply a rough outline of what each paragraph in the essay is going to be about.
It ensures the essay has a proper structure.
It ensures the essay flows in a logical order. If an essay plan isn’t made, this means you will write about whatever pops into their head at the time, and this more than likely means your essay will be confusing to read.
It ensures that you cover all the points you need to make. It’s easy to get caught up in writing if you don’t have a plan, which can mean you forget to say something really important.

3. HOW TO MAKE A PLAN
Making an essay plan should only take about 5 minutes, so timing certainly isn’t an issue here.
In fact, making one actually saves time later on!
The English 12 provincial exam will give space in the front exam booklet especially for planning.

4. BRAINSTORM
How do you know what you want to say? Take a few minutes to brainstorm some ideas.
Turn off the “editor” in your head and have some fun.
WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING YOU THINK OF, no matter how crazy.
Create a mind map or agree/disagree column

5. FOR EXAMPLE
Question: Challenging circumstances lead to positive actions
Agree
Disagree
We all want to be heroes
We all want to survive
People are basically good
Love is all around us
Heroes of 9/11, cancer survivors, everyday people
We get desperate when faced with death
Humans are innately greedy
Examples: Lord of the Flies, Donner party, Columbine

6. SELECTING IDEAS Not all your ideas should go into your essay.
Choose the strongest arguments and the ones you think you can develop and give supporting arguments and examples for.
Another way to make sure you have a solid essay is to match arguments with their counter arguments.
Which points from the "agree" side match up with points from the "disagree side"?** Which ideas do you think you could develop?

7. USE YOUR BRAINSTORM TO PLAN YOUR STRUCTURE
Cross out the ideas you're not using.
Write a little number next to the points you want to use to show which order they're going to go in.
Make brief notes – one or two keywords – to remind you how you're going to support or develop the arguments. For example, Agree 2: Britney Spears, Princess Diana.
Plan your introduction to focus the direction your essay will take.
If you feel comfortable with this, then write!

8. EDITING Question: Challenging circumstances lead to positive actions
Agree
Disagree
We all want to be heroes 3
We all want to survive
People are basically good 1
Love is all around us
Heroes of 9/11, cancer survivors, everyday people 1
We get desperate when faced with death 3
Humans are innately greedy 2
Examples: Lord of the Flies, Donner party, Columbine 2

9. YOUR TURN!
Topic: The important things in life endure over time

10. GOING A STEP FURTHER
Now, let’s take what you have written and turn it into a formal outline:
Introduction and thesis – what do you want to prove? ***more work on thesis statements to come***
Body paragraphs – use the SEXI structure
Conclusion

11. SEXI
S = Statement: This is the main point of the paragraph. Basically, what’s the point you’re about to discuss in this paragraph?
E = Explanation: Explain what you said in your statement. Tell the reader why your statement is true. This part should make up the bulk of the paragraph.
X = eXample Give an example! A quote, an example, a fact. Something concrete that gives evidence to your statement.
I = Importance Why is the point you’ve made in this paragraph important? What does it mean to your main idea? Tell the reader why it matters. This one might not always be applicable, but if you can then go for it.

12. For example…

13. YOUR TURN! Now outline your previous ideas using the SEXI method:
S = Statement: This is the main point of the paragraph. Basically, what’s the point you’re about to discuss in this paragraph?
E = Explanation: Explain what you said in your statement. Tell the reader why your statement is true. This part should make up the bulk of the paragraph.
X = eXample Give an example! A quote, an example, a fact. Something concrete that gives evidence to your statement.
I = Importance Why is the point you’ve made in this paragraph important? What does it mean to your main idea? Tell the reader why it matters. This one might not always be applicable, but if you can then go for it.