Scrabble tiles spell out the word 'planning'. A pencil is placed parallel below.

Once you have a clear understanding of what your assignment brief is asking of you, it’s time to start planning.

At this stage, your plan should:

Note what you already know
Help you decide what sources to read
Propose an initial stance (what you think your argument will be)
Indicate themes to cover.

There are many ways to organise your planning, but whichever you choose it's a good idea to start by writing the essay title at the top of the page. Once you get into the topic it's easy to be distracted!

Some planning suggestions

Write ideas on sticky notes and move them around to group into themes. How about different coloured notes for gaps to fill with reading, topic ideas etc.?
Write headings and bullet points. Again, you could use colours to aid organisation
Use mindmapping to create a visual picture of ideas. You can do this with pen and paper, or use a free online mindmapping tool
Add drawings to any planning method to help clarify your thinking or act as reminders for when you develop your plan.

If you find yourself stuck with your planning, try experimenting with a different method to help your brain spark new ideas and connections.

Once you have an initial plan, you can search for relevant literature, read and make notes, then come back to your plan armed with more information to revise and develop it. From your revised plan, you can start putting your essay draft together in a clear structure made up of an introduction, a series of main paragraphs, and a conclusion.

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