How to Write an Essay Using ABC Method

The ABC essay writing method derives from a time management procedure of the same name. The time management procedure helps you prioritize your daily or weekly schedule to ensure that you complete the most important tasks. Writing an essay with the ABC Method helps you to prioritize information in your essay so that your main points are strong and support your thesis.

Unlike some essay brainstorming methods, you must know your thesis statement and what you're hoping to achieve with your paper before you being writing. The ABC Method works best with information-based essays.

Write down your thesis statement. Your thesis statement presents the argument you intend to support with the information you'll include in your essay.

Write the evidence that supports or proves your thesis statement in bullet-point format the original statement.

Review your list of evidence, then mark the strongest points with the letter A, good points with the letter B and your weakest support with the letter C. You can further prioritize the information using numerical modifiers, for example, A1, A2 and A3 for your three strongest points among your A list.

Write a new list that starts with your thesis statement, followed by your remaining A arguments, then B arguments and then finally, C arguments. If you have too much evidence to put in your essay, eliminate information beginning with your lowermost C argument. Eliminate all C arguments before considering the elimination of any B evidence and likewise, eliminate all B evidence before considering your A arguments. This aligns with the purpose of the method, which is to construct your essay around the strongest arguments available to you.

Write an introductory paragraph that acquaints the reader with the topic you're covering and end your introduction with a transition just following your thesis statement. Each paragraph thereafter should present one complete argument each, including it's relevance to the thesis statement and how it supports your premise. Each argument serves as a topic sentence you can use to open your supporting paragraphs. End each supporting paragraph with a transition leading to the next paragraph.

Write a conclusion that summarizes your arguments and then suggests further work applicable to the topic based on gaps in information provided in your essay, informational inconsistencies or other sources of potential growth in related research. Do not present new evidence in your conclusion, but instead, restate the basic evidence you mentioned in your essay, especially A level evidence, and summarize how it supports your premise.

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