ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the activity of essay planning in a nutshell, aim of the activity, need of the activity, time required for the activity, how the activity works and the advantages of the activity. This activity aims to utilize the insights and ideas of a group to answer a specimen essay question, and to discuss the different approaches to essay writing. The tutor introduces an essay question, writes it up for everyone else to see, and then assigns one student to the job of scribe. Students tend to have set ways of responding to essay questions; they could therefore become involved in conflict over the best approach, causing those whose ideas are not taken on board to feel alienated. Students will be engaged in the very practical process of essay planning, and their future written assignments should show the benefit of this!
