GOOD PLANNING MAKES GOOD WRITING
It is not possible to achieve depth and
sophistication in your writing without
planning thoroughly!
Your response must address the “WHAT?”,
“HOW?”, and “WHY?” factors.
IT IS THROUGH ENCOUNTERING CONFLICT THAT
AN INDIVIDUAL EITHER GROWS OR IS
CORRUPTED.
STEP 1: WHAT IS THE PROMPT SUGGESTING?
Re-word the prompt to figure out what it’s suggesting:
e.g.
An experience with conflict can make an individual grow.
An experience with conflict can result in the corruption of
an individual.
IT IS THROUGH ENCOUNTERING CONFLICT THAT
AN INDIVIDUAL EITHER GROWS OR IS
CORRUPTED.
STEP 2: IDENTIFY THE KEYWORDS
•
•
•
•
•
•
Encounter
Conflict
Grows
Corrupted
Individual
Or
**Note that the prompt suggests that the result of conflict is EITHER one
end result OR the other.
IT IS THROUGH ENCOUNTERING CONFLICT THAT
AN INDIVIDUAL EITHER GROWS OR IS
CORRUPTED.
STEP 3: ADD MEANING TO THE KEYWORDS
These are very generic terms which need to be defined to provide
depth to your writing.
TASK 1: Add meaning to the keywords by listing as many examples or
synonyms as you can:
Encounter:
Conflict
Grow:
Become corrupted:
IT IS THROUGH ENCOUNTERING CONFLICT THAT
AN INDIVIDUAL EITHER GROWS OR IS
CORRUPTED.
STEP 3: ADD MEANING TO THE KEYWORDS
Some examples:
Encounter:
Conflict
Grow:
Become corrupted:
Experience
War
Become mentally stronger Bitterness
Survive
Racism
Cement your values
Mistrust
Overcome
Self-loathing
Learn to adapt
Lack empathy
Be faced with
Not belonging
Become more mature
Revenge
IT IS THROUGH ENCOUNTERING CONFLICT THAT
AN INDIVIDUAL EITHER GROWS OR IS
CORRUPTED.
STEP 4: CONSTRUCT YOUR CONTENTION.
Treat the prompt as an equation:
<x> will cause an individual to <y>
For example:
conflict will cause an individual to (grow/become corrupted)
**Mix and match the re-defined keywords from the previous brain storm to
come up with your contention.
IT IS THROUGH ENCOUNTERING CONFLICT THAT
AN INDIVIDUAL EITHER GROWS OR IS
CORRUPTED.
STEP 4: CONSTRUCT YOUR CONTENTION.
An example:
Racial conflict fuels resentment and irrational behaviour in those
involved.
Links to the prompt: Racial conflict (type of conflict) fuels (causes) resentment
and irrational behaviour (corruption) in those involved (an individual).
IT IS THROUGH ENCOUNTERING CONFLICT THAT
AN INDIVIDUAL EITHER GROWS OR IS
CORRUPTED.
STEP 5: PLAN YOUR IDEAS.
Now that you have established your contention, you need to consider
how you will explore it.
TASK 1: Come up with 3-4 reasons ‘why’. These reasons will make up the ideas
that you will explore in your writing.
**If you are writing an essay, each idea will be explored in your body paragraphs
TASK 2: Brainstorm different examples that support each of your ideas.
**Your must draw some of your examples from ‘Freedom Writers’. You must also
draw examples from other sources: e.g. other texts, historical events, Psychology
theories, Sociology, Media, etc.
IT IS THROUGH ENCOUNTERING CONFLICT THAT
AN INDIVIDUAL EITHER GROWS OR IS
CORRUPTED.
STEP 5: PLAN YOUR IDEAS.
Contention: Racial conflict fuels resentment and irrational behaviour in those
involved.
To construct your ideas, consider WHY this is plausible.
Note that each argument directly addresses the prompt.
e.g.
IDEA (WHY?)
EXAMPLE (HOW?)
Racial stereotypes are created, which turns
into propaganda that the public believes.
Historical: Anti-Semitic propaganda that Hitler fed
to the German public in his Aryan Race campaign.
Victims feel defensive, so they create exclusive Freedom Writers: Ms. Gruwell’s class is divided by
ethnic minorities which causes further social
racial tension. Eva’s speech about why she hates
divide.
white people.
Multiculturalism and cultural acceptance is
hindered by racism.
Current Issue in Australian media: Asylum seekers
in Australia.
IT IS THROUGH ENCOUNTERING CONFLICT THAT
AN INDIVIDUAL EITHER GROWS OR IS
CORRUPTED.
STEP 6: PLAN YOUR WRITING.
The next step is to decide how you will present these ideas in
your writing.
Even if you decide not to write an essay, you still must explore
the prompt and your ideas in response throughout the piece, in
a way that suits the form you have chosen.
IT IS THROUGH ENCOUNTERING CONFLICT THAT
AN INDIVIDUAL EITHER GROWS OR IS
CORRUPTED.