ABSTRACT
One of the useful consequences of being set a specific essay title or question to complete is that it focuses one's reading. If one approach a topic without a formulated question, then everything one read about that topic is – at least potentially – relevant to their interest. An important skill is being able to stop the research process and begin writing. Many students go deeper and deeper into their topic before they begin to make an essay plan. They feel the need to do all the reading they possibly can before committing themselves to a structure. Some thinking is best done on paper. The Internet is a convenient source of huge amounts of unfiltered information and misinformation, some of it parasitic on unreliable evidence that gets recycled and paraphrased for each website. The skill is in being selective and building up an argument to a conclusion using only material that is relevant to the question asked.
