How to write a better essay and prepare for the debate.

By Paul Higday

So, you're thinking about entering the Great American Think-Off. Great! The Think-Off is a unique event that provides everyone with a chance to learn, to discuss and most importantly, to think. The points below give some suggestions on how to write a better essay and prepare for the debate. However, regardless of whether your essay is selected or not, just entering the contest is its own reward.

Before writing the essay:

1. Research the topic. Head to the library or search the internet for other writers that have considered the topic before. Pick up a couple of philosophy books. Kant, Locke, Hobbes and other writers might have been dead for hundreds of years, but their thoughts are still very relevant to our world today.

2. Research the contest. Read every past essay that you can find. There are a surprising number of websites, articles and discussions about the Think-Off on the internet. There are even a number of essays posted that were not selected.

3. Keep an open mind. Most people read the question and immediately think the answer is obvious. As you research the topic you will most likely find that the answer is not as clear as you initially thought.

4. Weigh the arguments for both sides of the topic. This year's topic is a "yes/no" question. Before you make your final decision which way you are going to go, make sure you have enough information and arguments to back up your thoughts.

5. Choose your side.

6. Talk about the topic with your friends and family. The point of the Think-Off is to encourage discussion and debate. During your discussions you will quickly learn what arguments work and what arguments don't.

7. Identify the strongest arguments against yours. You will need to address some of these arguments in your essay. Remember, writing is a one-way medium. You need to anticipate your reader's arguments and address them.

8. Outline your essay. In the outline you should identify the general theme of your introduction, your statement of position, your major arguments and your conclusions. Make sure that you have some examples to back up your arguments. Remember, you need to do more than state your position, you need to prove why you are right.

Writing the essay:

1. Your introduction needs to grab the reader. If you look through the successful essays of the past you'll quickly find the almost all of them hook you in the first 50 words.

2. Have a very clear statement of position. The statement should not only state your side, but should also give the primary reason why you took that side.

3. Make sure your arguments are varied. The past essays available on the website prove that there are a wide variety of ways to make your point. However, every essay has one thing in common: They all have multiple arguments supporting their position.

4. You've only got 750 words, so be thinking about length with every word you write. If your first drafts comes out at 1500 words its going to be nearly impossible to cut it down to size.

5. Pick someone you can trust and listen to as an editor. Let them read the essay. Beg them if you have to. A different point of view is very helpful and will make the rewrite process a lot quicker.

6. Rewrite the essay. No one is perfect and your essay will probably go through multiple versions before you finish it.

7. Oh, and make sure its no more than 750 words.

The debate:

1. For those lucky four who make it to the finals, there is a lot more to do. Make sure you review your research and expand upon it. You can say a lot more in several hours of debate than you can write in 750 words, so make sure you have content to talk about. Go back and review the arguments for the other side. You'll need to know how to answer the ones that you didn't talk about in your essay.

2. Practice reading your essay. I know this may feel a bit strange but public speaking is very different from writing. Make sure you identify the key sentences and practice emphasizing those sentences.

3. The debate is in a presidential format. Watch a few old presidential debates if you can. There are a couple of common approaches for all the good debaters. A) The participants all answer the question in their first sentence. B) They always support their arguments with as much information as they can. C) They always acknowledge their opponent's argument and either expand on it or show why they don't agree with it.

4. You are allowed to have notes on stage with you. If you have problems remembering everything you want to say, don't be afraid to bring your notes up with you.

5. Most importantly, enjoy New York Mills. It's a great town with great people. A large portion of the local town and a surprising number of people from all over the country show up at the debate. Take the opportunity to meet them and talk to them. It's an experience you'll never forget.