NET SIEVE SPINE
This is a useful approach to planning for Paper 1 writing. You can use it at the beginning of the exam to ensure your ideas are relevant, developed, and organised.
1. ideas are collected (NET) ...
2. ... selected & developed (SIEVE) ...
3. ...and organised (SPINE)
NET
“ Take an empty piece of paper. As you think around the subject, note down everything that occurs to you ...
...don’t be selective or critical at this stage, because you don’t yet know what might be useful and what might not ...
... and write down your notes at random all over the sheet ...
... DON’T start at the top left hand corner - you don’t want structure at this stage, because you don’t know what the structure will be, nor what structure might be best ...”
SIEVE
“ Look at your NET notes ... underline / ring / highlight those ideas which seem to you most interesting and / or relevant....
Then, take more empty sheets of paper, and note down the various ideas that you have just selected - allowing plenty of space around each heading ...
Work through each of your key ideas, developing them by thinking them out in detail and doing any research that you need...
... As you work through the various key ideas, things may jump into your mind about the other key ideas - so you note these new points down under the appropriate headings ...
SPINE
“ When you’re satisfied that you have as much as you can find, or as much as you need ... take another sheet of paper, and work out the sequence of what you are going to write - which of the SIEVE headings you will deal with first, which next, and so on ...
It is a very good idea to try several different sequences - the first sequence you think of is almost certainly not the best you could invent !
Once you are satisfied with your SPINE (or general strategy), plan the essay in detail, paying particular attention to how you link one paragraph to the next ...”
You can use the following projection to present each step of the process - and then, if it seems appropriate, you can give out the handout below to remind them of the procedure.
The Projection
Net slidesThe handout
NET SIEVE SPINE Presentation