The Architect

Content Summary

In this step, you take what you have gathered and create a plan for the assignment. Essays in particular need a solid structure. You do this by:

• Re-reading and sorting your research notes into themes.
• Developing a clear structure: introduction, body, conclusion.
• Creating a logical flow using headings and bullet points.
• Sticking to relevant material that addresses the essay question.
• Using the rubric/assessment criteria as a planning tool.
• Allocating word counts strategically.
• Maintaining balance and consistency in your arguments.

By the end of step 3, you still haven’t written a word of the assignment—but you know exactly what you’re going to say and how you’ll say it.

Resources

Helpful questions to ask in your planning:

• Did the assessment guidelines in the CADO outline a structure that I should follow?

• How can I group the ideas that I have come up with?
• What ideas should I leave out? You might have some great ideas that don't actually address the area that the assessment is focussed on, if so you need to leave those out. Consider how much space (word count) you have to work with.
• What order makes the most sense for my ideas? 
• What needs to be said first for my reader to understand what follows?
• How can I balance the ideas?

 Essay structure

• Introduction: This acts as a road-map for your assignment. Give a clear statement of the problem, issue or topic that you are writing about, and tell the reader how you are going to go about addressing it. You might define key terms and indicate the limits of the assignment.

• The Body: This should be a logical development of an argument or point of view. It should be a step-by-step solution to the problem, issue or topic that you are writing about. Break this down into paragraphs, with one big idea per paragraph.

• Conclusion: This should summarise how you have addressed the problem, issue or topic that you are writing about. Do not introduce any new big ideas here, instead summarise the big ideas that you covered in the body of the essay.

Strengthen Your Argument Using These Four Strategies

1. Support – Use evidence, logic, and trusted sources.
2. Concede – Acknowledge your argument’s weak spots with honesty.
3. Defend – Address possible objections and counter them.
4. Refute – Point out flaws in opposing arguments to strengthen your own.