1.   Keeping clear and concise notes of what you have read enables you to organise your essay without having to refer constantly back to the original sources.

2.   Using the same information available for a sequential description, however, it is possible to organise an essay in more interesting ways.

3.   Any classificatory system you use to organise your essay has to be explained, of course.

4.   In this mode of organising an essay, you divide the issue you are addressing into conflicting positions, or points of view, or sides of an argument.

5.   Sometimes you can organise your essay around an already existing critical controversy.

6.   Do you now think the way of organising your essay was in fact the best way of approaching the topic?

7.   Organising your essay in advance changes the process of writing a first paragraph.