Before drafting.
WHY PLAN
Writing without a plan produces work that wanders and must be rewritten.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH FIRST
What the question asks What your answer is What evidence supports it
THAT SECOND POINT
If you cannot state your answer in a sentence, you are not ready to write.
WHAT TO PRODUCE
An outline: the sections, and what each argues.
WHAT EACH SECTION SHOULD HAVE
A point Evidence An explanation of how the evidence supports the point A link to what follows
WHAT TO CHECK IN THE OUTLINE
That each section serves the argument That the order is logical That nothing essential is missing
WHY CHECK NOW
Restructuring an outline takes minutes. Restructuring a draft takes hours.
WHAT TO ALLOCATE
Words per section, roughly, against the limit.
WHY
It prevents spending half the allowance on background.
WHAT TO LEAVE UNTIL LATER
The introduction, which is easier to write once you know what you said.
WHAT TO KEEP VISIBLE
The question, while writing.
