Brainstorming/Planning Strategies for Answering the FSA ELA Writing Prompt—
Note Taking While You Read and Highlight
Know that this prompt requires you to plan and revise. You will be given a sheet of paper to take notes. All good writing requires planning. Below are some suggestions for the reading, note-taking, and planning process:
- As stated in the previous handouts on how to write the essays, you must keep the key words of the prompt and the exact task foremost in your mind while you read the different texts. Highlight the key words in the prompt before you begin reading the passage set.
- As you read the texts, highlight only those sections that will help support and develop the ideas of your particular task. For example, the relationship between clothing creation and clothing styles.
- Read each text carefully, highlighting appropriately—you should consider the key ideas of the prompt to be your North Star, guiding you in the right direction. Ignore any information that does not pertain to your task.
- Every time you highlight with the mouse, write a note on your paper. For example, if you highlight the sentence, “Before the American Civil War, ready-made apparel existed but its variety was limited,” write on your Notes Sheet as follows:
- Before H-- (where “Before” stands for the first word in the highlight, and “H” stands for highlight). Then write down your thoughts about how you will elaborate, comment, demonstrate critical thinking, and make inferences (words and phrases will do; you are not being graded on your Notes Sheet, although you will need to turn the paper in).
- Write your thoughts/ideas very quickly.
- Once you have read all the texts and highlighted sections, then plan how you are going to organize your essay. Do this quickly as well; do not worry about penmanship or spelling at this point, as these are your ideas, not the essay itself. And again, you will not be graded on your Notes Sheet. Write something like the following:
- First I will discuss. . .
- Second I will discuss. . .
- Third I will discuss. . . etc. (Remember, never use a "chatty" tone in your actual essay. Always use third person!)
- You need not even write the words “I will discuss.” You could simply use numbers. What is most important is that you devise a way to organize your essay.
- Will you write in order of your highlights? Will you write in order of the texts? Will you write in order of the different subtopics? Will you organize your discussion chronologically, if the texts can be used in that way? How will you organize your argument (if applicable)? When will you address your counterclaim and what is the gist of it (if applicable)? The main point is that you must have a plan and be an organized thinker.
- Once you have done this brainstorming and planning, the essay will be easy to write. Consider your Notes Sheet a recipe for the essay: what information to throw into the bowl of your discussion (the ingredients), in what order (the directions), and with what commentary/elaboration (the measurements).
- Write. After you have completed the essay, go back and revise. Check for errors; cut and paste as needed. Good luck!
