If your house were on fire and there were no people in the house, what three items would you try to rescue?

1. Which topic have you chosen for this essay? Write a brief narrative paragraph explaining what got you interested in this topic. As you explain this interest, think of specific details, images, and examples that you may eventually use in this essay. At this stage, you can reflect on as many personal examples as you desire. 2. Create a list of as many things as you can think of related to your topic: details, descriptions, words, phrases, experiences, etc. This list doesn’t have to be in complete sentences or in any specific order. Include at least ten items on this list. 3. What three specific things (people, experiences, places, etc.) are you going to discuss in the body paragraphs of this essay? If you can, put these in the order that you plan to discuss them in your essay. 4. Write your tentative three-part thesis statement for this essay. 5. Freewrite at least 150 words to generate details for the first body paragraph of your essay. Attempt to address the 5 W’s (who, what, when, where, and why) related to this body paragraph. 6. Freewrite at least 150 words to generate details for the second body paragraph of your essay. Attempt to address the 5 W’s (who, what, when, where, and why) related to this body paragraph. 7. Freewrite at least 150 words to generate details for the third body paragraph of your essay. Attempt to address the 5 W’s (who, what, when, where, and why) related to this body paragraph. 8. Write a possible “hook” sentence for your introduction paragraph. (The first sentence of your essay should provide a “hook” that catches your readers’ interest and makes them want to continue reading.)