This book is a superb all-in-one guide to success GCSE English Language and English Literature - GCSE English 2003

Planning
Section One — Writing Essays

You've got to make a plan for every single essay you ever write, whether it's for coursework or the exams. That's a plan on paper — not in your head. There are no shortcuts with planning.

Decide What to Say Before You Start

You have to have a good think about what you're going to write about before you start — otherwise your ideas won't follow a clear structure and you'll lose marks.

Good writing makes a point. It doesn't just ramble on about nothing.

Whatever kind of essay you're writing, make sure you've got enough ideas to keep you writing till your time's up — without having to waffle. Waffle won't get you any marks at all.

Write Your Points Down On Paper

1) Jot down a plan of the points you want to make before you start writing.

2) That way you won't get to the end and realise you've forgotten something.

3) Don't bother writing your plan in proper sentences — it's a waste of time.

4) In the exams spend 5 MINUTES planning every essay.

Q. Write an article for a newspaper about an issue that's important to you.

Explain why you think the issue is important.

Planning is VITAL if you want to write good essays

Once you've clone a plan, you're ready to start writing your essay. Planning gets the tricky thinking out of the way, so you can make the best use of your actual writing time.