Aim: to understand how to use a plan to get the most out of your essay

It is very easy to jump into an essay without planning it. However, the best essays have a clear thread of argument to them, and to achieve this, it is best to start with a plan.

Stage 1: For the question, “Assess the view that God’s existence cannot be proven a priori” (or one that you have been set), create a plan following this structure:

For	Against
– Key argument – Facts/sources – Strengths – Weaknesses	– Key argument – Facts/sources – Strengths – Weaknesses

Stage 2: For the question, “To what extent can evil’s existence in the world be justified?” (or another which you have been set), create a plan like the one above in two minutes.

For	Against
– Key argument – Facts/sources – Strengths – Weaknesses	– Key argument – Facts/sources – Strengths – Weaknesses

Stage 3: Plan an answer for all of your own answers from now on!

Follow up: Try writing an essay without a plan, then the same one with a plan, and notice the difference.

Then: watch the video on planning essay questions (https://youtu.be/FIqRPMXMN2k), pick some past questions, and plan out a question, before writing it out in full

Stuck? Go to https://youtu.be/nMbE6m83cio