Optional in-school essay
Compose the essay when included by the school.
OpenCLT Optional in-school essay
Use this sequence when your school includes the optional online essay. Begin with the prompt’s genuine conflict, develop a qualified thesis and connect a concrete example to the rule you defend. The essay lessons then train objections, tradeoffs, paragraph progression and revision. The optional exercise allows thirty additional minutes; it is outside the three core section clocks and does not enter the CLT numeric total. For rehearsal, try four minutes planning, twenty-two drafting and four revising, then adjust the allocation based on the writing you produce. A polished introduction cannot replace a developed argument, so leave enough time to explain examples and respond to a serious challenge.
Updated October 2, 2026
What to study
- argument
- organization
How to approach the section
- State both the position and the condition limiting it; avoid a thesis so broad that every example becomes an exception.
- Develop a historical, literary or contemporary example by explaining its relevant facts and why they support the claim.
- Choose an objection that would matter if true, then answer it with reasoning or a clearer boundary on your rule.
- Revise the links between paragraphs and check that the conclusion follows the argument actually written.
Common mistakes
- Listing famous examples without explaining their relevance.
- Answering a weak imaginary opponent instead of the strongest concern about your position.
- Replacing a defended rule with repeated personal conviction.
- Treating the practice rubric as an official numeric essay score or adding an essay to a remote rehearsal.