How to Write Great Essays

2

---

Organization
CHAPTER 1 
HOW TO WRITE GREAT ESSAYS
3
this technique often surprise themselves with what comes out on paper. It is common to
discover a thought or point you didn’t realize you had.
Specifically, freewriting means spending a predetermined period of time writing non-
stop, focusing on a specific topic. In fact, freewriting might better be called “flow writing,”
because the most important aspect to this prewriting technique is the flow, or momentum,
that comes when you stay with it. It works best when you write in full sentences, but phrases
are also effective. The key is to keep writing without regard for grammar, spelling, or wor-
thiness of ideas. Your speed will help keep you from being able to edit or throw out any ideas.
KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL FREEWRITING
◆
Resist the temptation to look back at what you have written during the process.
◆
If you can’t stay on topic, keep writing anything to maintain the flow.
◆
Do not censor yourself; your freewriting is not going to be seen by others, so
commit every thought to paper.
◆
Follow your ideas wherever they lead you.
◆
When finished, read your freewriting with a highlighter, noting the most interesting
and strongest ideas.
◆
Try the process again after you have focused your topic; more ideas may be
generated.
2. BRAINSTORMING OR LISTING
Brainstorming is similar to freewriting in that it is a timed, flowing exercise meant to elicit
many thoughts and ideas on a given topic. However, instead of putting whole sentences or
phrases to paper, this prewriting technique involves creating a list. It might contain various
individual thoughts or ideas that make sense in a particular order, and/or ideas that are linked
together by association with previous ideas. Unlike freewriting, brainstorming works well
in a limited amount of time. Even with the twenty-five minutes allotted for the SAT essay,
it is worthwhile to spend a few moments jotting down your ideas before beginning to write.
Putting your ideas on paper will be especially helpful on the SAT, where your goal is to estab-
lish a point of view on a topic and support your position.