A Couple Dozen Thoughts On Writing  A Think-Off Essay

By Mary Fishler-Fisk

1.    Consider the question carefully. 

2.    Choose a side.  

3.    Research the question.  This includes searching your own experience for appropriate examples.  The Think-Off is heavily weighted in favor of personal experience versus learned scholarship.

4.    Find examples which support your side in the issue.  If your research turns up legitimate arguments on the other side, try to find countermanding research that backs up your side.

5.    It is okay to change sides based on your research, but I would not recommend changing sides if some strong personal experience or conviction points in the other direction. 

6.    Think-Off questions have no right or wrong answer–the side you choose should be the one that comes from your own heart. 

7.    The essay is an advocacy piece for one of two sides.  Do not argue the other side–s case except to refute it.  Argue your own case forcefully.

8.    The essay is precursor to a live debate.  Be able to support your position way beyond what you will be able to include in 750 words.

9.    Write a much longer essay, throwing in everything plus the kitchen sink, then cut to 750 words. 

10. Use all 750 words.  If you can–t sustain an essay of 750 words, how will you sustain a debate?

11. Do not exceed the word limit.  Even if the judges were to allow a longer essay--which they don–t--it would take too long to read aloud.

12. If you win, you will have to read the essay aloud and use it as a springboard for your debate.  Make sure the essay works orally as well as in written form.  Make sure you can read it aloud comfortably and naturally.  Don–t use seventy-five cent words that tie up your tongue.

13. Make a clear statement of your position in the first paragraph–if possible, in the first sentence.

14. Follow your position statement with the reasons why you believe your position is correct.

15. Be brief and to the point. 

16. Don–t ramble. 

17. Be logical, but be passionate.

18. Back up your passion with fact.

19. Focus on one or two major points.  This does not mean have only one or two points.  You will be expected to expand on and add to your argument in the live debate. 

20. The Think-Off guidelines request personal experience.  Use as many examples from your own life or experience as you can.  These do not have to be earth shattering. Strong generic examples might be persuasive, but a personally meaningful, to the point example will probably carry more weight with both the reader and the audience.

21. Make sure your examples really do illustrate the point.

22. Be sure of your facts.  Don–t quote something unless you have checked the source. 

23. Conclude the essay with a restatement of your position.  This restatement should be able to come logically at the end of a sentence like "And that is why I believe that ...."

24. Buy and study a copy of The Great American Think-Off Book of Essays from 2001.  It includes the top 20 essays in the 2001 Think-Off.  Pay particular attention to the top 4–which were the winning essays.  Compare them to the 16 runners-up.  Try to determine why the judges chose the four that they did.