(b) Textbooks: • What is being described? • Do I understand? • Does it fit with my understanding of the cases? • Have I properly grasped the issues involved? • What is of relevance to my essay? (c) Articles: • What is the writer’s argument? • Is it well supported by the evidence? • Does the writer’s argument support or deny my argument in the essay? Is there a majority view developing in the texts concerning any of the issues raised by the question? Go back to the diagram of the essay question made under Stage 1. Note beside the various issues aspects of the texts that are of relevance to the issues identified as requiring discussion to answer the question. It is important to remain open to the possibility that personal ideas may change as more research is conducted and some texts present persuasive arguments that had not been previously considered. (4) Stage 4: begin to form a view of possible arguments to be used to answer the question Add these to your diagram. (5) Stage 5: consider the strength of your argument This stage is important. You should by now have a reasonably clear idea of how your argument may look. You will know what supporting evidence you have and where you lack support. Argument construction has been specifically dealt with in this text and can be located in Chapter 7. You do not have to throw out weak arguments if they serve to build a broader picture and support a broader argument. (6) Stage 6: begin to write the essay plan Look at: • the diagram of the question; • the notes of cases and other texts; • the notes of your personal ideas/argument. (7) Stage 7: write the first draft of the essay Although you will have an idea of what you are doing and where you are going and indeed what your answer is to the question it is a good idea to start your detailed first draft in the body of the text.

DOI link for (b) Textbooks: • What is being described? • Do I understand? • Does it fit with my understanding of the cases? • Have I properly grasped the issues involved? • What is of relevance to my essay? (c) Articles: • What is the writer’s argument? • Is it well supported by the evidence? • Does the writer’s argument support or deny my argument in the essay? Is there a majority view developing in the texts concerning any of the issues raised by the question? Go back to the diagram of the essay question made under Stage 1. Note beside the various issues aspects of the texts that are of relevance to the issues identified as requiring discussion to answer the question. It is important to remain open to the possibility that personal ideas may change as more research is conducted and some texts present persuasive arguments that had not been previously considered. (4) Stage 4: begin to form a view of possible arguments to be used to answer the question Add these to your diagram. (5) Stage 5: consider the strength of your argument This stage is important. You should by now have a reasonably clear idea of how your argument may look. You will know what supporting evidence you have and where you lack support. Argument construction has been specifically dealt with in this text and can be located in Chapter 7. You do not have to throw out weak arguments if they serve to build a broader picture and support a broader argument. (6) Stage 6: begin to write the essay plan Look at: • the diagram of the question; • the notes of cases and other texts; • the notes of your personal ideas/argument. (7) Stage 7: write the first draft of the essay Although you will have an idea of what you are doing and where you are going and indeed what your answer is to the question it is a good idea to start your detailed first draft in the body of the text.

(b) Textbooks: • What is being described? • Do I understand? • Does it fit with my understanding of the cases? • Have I properly grasped the issues involved? • What is of relevance to my essay? (c) Articles: • What is the writer’s argument? • Is it well supported by the evidence? • Does the writer’s argument support or deny my argument in the essay? Is there a majority view developing in the texts concerning any of the issues raised by the question? Go back to the diagram of the essay question made under Stage 1. Note beside the various issues aspects of the texts that are of relevance to the issues identified as requiring discussion to answer the question. It is important to remain open to the possibility that personal ideas may change as more research is conducted and some texts present persuasive arguments that had not been previously considered. (4) Stage 4: begin to form a view of possible arguments to be used to answer the question Add these to your diagram. (5) Stage 5: consider the strength of your argument This stage is important. You should by now have a reasonably clear idea of how your argument may look. You will know what supporting evidence you have and where you lack support. Argument construction has been specifically dealt with in this text and can be located in Chapter 7. You do not have to throw out weak arguments if they serve to build a broader picture and support a broader argument. (6) Stage 6: begin to write the essay plan Look at: • the diagram of the question; • the notes of cases and other texts; • the notes of your personal ideas/argument. (7) Stage 7: write the first draft of the essay Although you will have an idea of what you are doing and where you are going and indeed what your answer is to the question it is a good idea to start your detailed first draft in the body of the text.