1. The 11-Minute Essay

2. You will be writing on the following prompt: Discuss a time when you felt pressure from others to participate in an activity that you didn’t want to do.
STEP 1

3. STEP 2 Brainstorm and write for ONE minute to answer the question:
What does it mean?
STEP 2

4. STEP 3 Take a breath and start a new paragraph.
Brainstorm and write for THREE minutes answering the question: How do you know that’s true?
STEP 3

5. STEP 4 Take a breath and start a new paragraph.
Brainstorm and write for THREE minutes about a movie that also proves the idea. Use the name of the movie as you write about it.
STEP 4

6. STEP 5 Take a breath and start a new paragraph.
Brainstorm and write for THREE minutes about how the idea has been proven true in your life experiences.
STEP 5

7. STEP 6 Take a breath and start a new paragraph.
Brainstorm and write for ONE minute about one question that remains after all that you’ve written. Start with “I think” or “I wonder” or “Maybe, though.
STEP 6

8. Re-read your essay  If there is a paragraph that is weak, cross it out It will only make your essay stronger.
STEP 7