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What's your plan when you first see the essay fact pattern? Do you create a column for each party and attribute relevant facts to them on scratch paper or just starting listing issues and rules in random order?

I'm having trouble with organization in preliminary stages of answering an essay question. I see the issues but can't seem to place them into an outline (at least within a reasonable amount of time). Anybody have tips or general commentary on their process of attacking/setting up an essay answer?

Cydiego wrote:What's your plan when you first see the essay fact pattern? Do you create a column for each party and attribute relevant facts to them on scratch paper or just starting listing issues and rules in random order?

I'm having trouble with organization in preliminary stages of answering an essay question. I see the issues but can't seem to place them into an outline (at least within a reasonable amount of time). Anybody have tips or general commentary on their process of attacking/setting up an essay answer?

Not sure if you have done so or not, but you should take a look at MANY sample answers for each essay subject. Not only will you see which issues are tested more frequently, but you will see how certain issues should be organized/analyzed. For example, take a look at a bunch of Civ Pro questions and you'll notice that SMJ and PJ are heavily tested and that there is always a similar way to organize those.