Context essay planning assistance

[This-is-not-me]

Hey guys I am just having some trouble planning a conflict essay on the prompt: 'In situations of conflict there are no clear winners'.  I was just wondering if someone could give me some assistance in organising some ideas and what I could possibly write about on this prompt.  The text I'm studying is Life Of Galileo.

Thanks

[jeanweasley]

Here's what I do when planning for an essay.

1. Read the prompt more than once.
2. Highlight and define key words
3. Turn the prompt/topic into a series of little questions and into one 'full picture' question

For example, the keywords in your prompt are 'conflict' and 'no clear winners'.  Now that you've identified that, you need to define it. What does conflict mean? How does one engage in conflict?
Do 'clear winners' mean that nobody wins or that both people learn from said conflict and then in turn improve their understanding of the situation/themselves and their identity?

Is it just situations of conflict that produce 'no clear winners'?

Is winning so important when dealing in situations of conflict?

Basically, think of it this way: an essay topic or a prompt is like a series of 30 or more questions incorporated into the one question; and that it is your job to unpack these questions and discuss them. Obviously I don't know your text but hopefully I've been some help. (: Good luck!

[meganrobyn]

That's exactly how I think of a prompt, too!

[This-is-not-me]

Thank you jeanweasley for your reply, and that's usually how I go when handling a prompt by breaking it up.  I  just needed some help in relation  to my actual text but thanks anyway.

[meganrobyn]

If you write out the thesis for your essay and the three sections of argument/idea your paragraphs will be based around, I'm sure people would be able to suggest ways in which LOG might be able to be used...?

[jeanweasley]

Thank you jeanweasley for your reply, and that's usually how I go when handling a prompt by breaking it up.  I  just needed some help in relation  to my actual text but thanks anyway.

Okay, how about you brainstorm first and I'll see what I can do in regards to helping you find examples. Another point that I forgot to say was that normally the answer to your brainstorming questions are normally what form your three or four paragraphs. Also, consider thinking about what form you are going to write in and the audience you're writing for. (: