BRAINSTORMING AND OUTLINING

TASK ANALYSIS
In analyzing a question in essay, we look focus on three parts names: SCENARIO,
ISSUE, AND QUESTION.
1. SCENARIO- This provides the statement or condition of what the topic is all about.
2. ISSUE- This presents the conflict, problem, or situation that can have different views
from people.
3. QUESTION- This is your guide in how you develop your essay.
Example:
1. When a country develops its technology, the traditional skills and ways of life
die out. It is pointless to try and keep them alive. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?
SCENARIO: When a country develops its technology, the traditional skills and ways of
life die out.
ISSUE: It is pointless to try and keep them alive.
QUESTION: To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2. Technology has benefitted our life so much and given us a lot of freedom.
Some people however believe that it has caused more problems for us. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
SCENARIO: Technology has benefitted our life so much and given us a lot of freedom.
ISSUE: Some people however believe that it has caused more problems for us.
QUESTION: To what extent do you agree or disagree?
QUESTION ANALYSIS
There are two types of questions namely ARGUMENT and ACCOUNT.
ARGUMENT QUESTIONS (needs stand) these are questions that require a
stand or point of view from the writer on the topic.
Example: Do you agree or disagree?
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Discuss both views and give your opinion

ACCOUNT QUESTIONS (objective discussion) - the writer does not choose a

side but balanced discussion of the given task.

Example: What are the positive and negative effects?

What are the problems and solution?
What are the advantages and disadvantages?

BRAINSTORMING FOR ANSWERS

SAMPLE ARGUMENT QUESTION
Museums for many years have been the places of knowledge and cultural exchange.
Nowadays, there are more and more resources on the Internet and museums will not be
needed in the future. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
AGREE (more resources in Internet)

DISAGREE (MUSEUMS are still needed)

1. Accessible and available to any parts of 1. Culture and Information are preserved
the world
in museum

2. Always updated with information from 2. Give you clearer picture (artifacts, relics,
time to time
and remnants of the past)

3. Hassle-free (No need to travel to learn 3. Accurate with information than internet
information)

SAMPLE ACCOUNT QUESTION

Tourism has negative effect on certain destinations and many people believe that
particular tourists are to blame for that. Discuss the specific negative effects that were
identified as ones with impact on tourist places. What are the solutions to this situation?
NEGATIVE EFFECTS (PROBLEMS)

1. Garbage and pollution

SOLUTIONS

1. Tourist should pay

preservation of place

taxes

for

2. Tourist spot will be exploited and 2. Rules and regulations should be

damaged
strictly followed

EXERCISE 1. Read the question and give your ideas about the topic cited.
1. When a country develops its technology, the traditional skills and ways of life
die out. It is pointless to try and keep them alive. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?
AGREE (TRADITIONAL SKILLS
SHOULD LIVE)

DISAGREE (TRADITIONAL SKILLS

SHOULD NOT LIVE)

2. Some companies and organizations require their employees to wear uniform.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of wearing uniform?
ADVANTAGES OF WEARING UNIFORM

DISADVANTAGES OF WEARING
UNIFORM

3. Some people think that advertising is helpful and informative, while others
think that advertising can provide false information and will make goods more
expensive. Discuss both views. What is your opinion?
VIEWPOINT # 1

VIEWPOINT # 2

DEVELOPING ARGUMENTS

Here is an example of an essay body paragraph excerpt from composition

writing. The question is on whether children should be encouraged to study
more and play less sport. Which one is better?
WRITER 1: Sport is really good and helps make your body better. It is lots of fun and
good for kids. The sport is important for thinking too as you can think better if you are
feeling good.
WRITER 2: Physical activity is necessary to help promote healthy bodily functions.
Removing sport from the syllabus would encourage the development of obesity and
other problems. Not only does sport improve fitness, it also helps the mind. My brother
is a lawyer and regularly uses the gym to help improve his thinking processes.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------WRITER # 1: A physical lifestyle is recommended for any child as the negative

effects of laziness far outweighs the time that might be spent on keeping fit. It
is necessary, though, to make sure that this time is chosen well, and that there
is balance between study and sport, so that they are more likely to be able to
pass through the interview and get a job.
WRITER 2: It is crucial that our young participate enthusiastically in the
sporting arena so that they may be imbued with a sense of understanding
regarding their vigor and the value of their lymphatic system. Indolence is
anathema to progress, and physical fitness would enable them to advance to
and reach their goals and aspirations. Nonetheless, it is vital that equilibrium
be found between periods spent on learning and those spent on sport so that
this happy medium can result in successful career goals in the future.
PARTS OF A BODY PARAGRAPH
TOPIC SENTENCE the general thought of the paragraph. This includes the main
point of the whole essay.

SUBSTANTIATION this supports the topic sentence. Gives more elaboration on the
major thought cited.
EXAMPLE: This provides concrete proofs and evidence to support your opinion on the
matter.

MAKING AN OUTLINE. Make an outline on how to organize the paragraphing for the given
question. Write only in phrases or bullets.
1. Throughout the centuries the world has been governed by men and the result was
that human history is full of violence and conflicts. If the world was governed by women
we would have a more peaceful world. To what extent do you disagree or agree?

SITUATION:
ISSUE:
QUESTION:
INTRODUCTION
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
BODY # 1
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
BODY #2
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
COUNTER ARGUMENT
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

CONCLUSION
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Related words:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. As the richer people grow richer, the poor people are getting poorer. What problems
rise in this situation and how can we cope with them.
SITUATION:
ISSUE:
QUESTION:
INTRODUCTION
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
PROBLEMS (GENERAL)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
PROBLEMS (SPECIFIC)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
SOLUTION (GENERAL)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
SOLUTION (SPECIFIC)
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

Related words:
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________