What is the first step recommended when planning a 20-mark exam response?

• A. Draft a clear thesis
• B. Outline main points
• C. Plan quotes to support
• D. Allocate time for intro, 3-4 robust paragraphs, and conclusion

Answer: (A)

Starting with a clear thesis is essential because it gives your essay a single, defensible claim to argue throughout the response. The thesis acts as the throughline that guides what you analyze, which poems you focus on, and how you interpret techniques and effects. With that central argument in mind, you can plan how each paragraph will support it, decide which quotations will illustrate your points, and allocate time so the intro and conclusion frame your claim while each section develops it.

Outlining main points is useful, but it should flow from the thesis—the plan helps you ensure every point ties back to your argument rather than drifting into unrelated observations. Planning quotes is important too, but doing so without a guiding thesis risks choosing evidence that doesn’t clearly support a specific claim. Time allocation matters, yet it’s most effective once you know the argument you’re making and how your paragraphs will build it.