Prewriting is the quiet part of writing where your ideas take shape before they appear on the page. In this lesson, you will explore how prewriting helps you respond thoughtfully to global problems, especially inequality in Asia and Africa. You will connect your brainstorming to the Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 10 and SDG 16. Step by step, you will turn a broad concern into clearer notes, questions, and possibilities. By the end, you will have a stronger starting point for your own opinion editorial.
🎯 Learning Goals
By the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
- Explain at least three reasons why prewriting is essential for a clear opinion editorial.
- Use a simple prewriting tool (list, web, or chart) to organize ideas about an inequality issue in Asia or Africa.
- Write a short focused note that names a possible opinion editorial topic, target readers, and purpose.
🧩 Key Ideas & Terms
- Prewriting – activities you do before drafting, such as brainstorming, listing, or outlining ideas.
- Brainstorming – quickly writing or sharing many ideas without judging them yet.
- Outline – a structured plan that shows the order of main points and supporting details.
- Focused opinion – a clear statement that shows your position on a specific part of a topic.
- Counterargument – a viewpoint that disagrees with your opinion.
- Evidence – facts, examples, statistics, or expert quotes that support your ideas.
- Target readers – the specific people you want to reach with your opinion editorial.
- Purpose – the main reason you are writing (for example, to inform, persuade, or call to action).
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – a global goal that focuses on reducing unfair gaps within and among countries.
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – a global goal that promotes peaceful societies, access to justice, and fair institutions.
🔄 Quick Recall / Prior Knowledge
Review what you already know from earlier lessons about global inequality and opinion editorials.
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What is one global problem linked to inequality that
you remember from Day 1?
Show Answer
Examples include educational inequality, unequal access to healthcare, or economic gaps between groups in Asia and Africa. Any clearly global inequality connected to more than one country is acceptable.
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In your own words, what is an
opinion editorial trying to do?
Show Answer
An opinion editorial tries to convince readers to see an issue in a certain way or support a position by giving clear reasons and evidence.
-
Why might writers think about target readers before
they start drafting?
Show Answer
Knowing the target readers helps writers choose language, examples, and evidence that will matter to those readers and may inspire them to act.
📖 Explore the Lesson
Move through each checkpoint in order. Pause to write in your notebook before opening the suggested answers.
Checkpoint 1: Prewriting as Your Blueprint
Mini-goal: Understand how prewriting helps you plan and organize an opinion editorial.
Imagine that you have been asked to design a house on an empty lot. You would not begin by randomly placing bricks and windows. First, you would sketch a plan that shows where the rooms, doors, and stairs belong. That sketch is like a blueprint. In writing, prewriting is your blueprint. It allows you to see the shape of your opinion editorial before you commit to full paragraphs.
When you skip prewriting, your ideas often appear in a confusing order. You may repeat the same point several times, forget important details, or jump from one thought to another without clear connections. Readers might struggle to follow your reasoning, even if your opinion is strong. Prewriting gives you a chance to explore possibilities while it is still easy to move things around.
Prewriting can take many forms: a quick list of points, a diagram that shows links between ideas, or an outline with Roman numerals and letters. Whatever form you choose, the aim is the same: to decide what belongs in your editorial and where it should appear. For example, if you want to write about educational inequality in rural communities, you might list causes, effects, and possible solutions, then group and number them in a logical order.
Planning is especially important when you are dealing with a global problem. Issues like inequality have many causes and effects. Without a plan, you may try to say everything and end up saying nothing clearly. Prewriting helps you select only the ideas that support your main message and arrange them into a path your readers can follow.
Mini-summary: Prewriting works like a blueprint for your opinion editorial. It helps you decide what ideas to include, how to group them, and in what order to present them so readers can follow your argument.
-
Think about a time when your writing felt disorganized. How might
prewriting have helped?
Show Answer
Prewriting could have helped you list and group ideas before drafting, so similar points stayed together and unimportant details were removed. This would make the final text clearer and easier to read.
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Which prewriting method sounds most comfortable for you right now:
listing, webbing, or outlining? Why?
Show Answer
Many learners choose listing because it feels quick and low-pressure. Others prefer webbing if they like to see connections visually. Any choice is fine as long as it helps you think before drafting.
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In your notebook, sketch a tiny “blueprint” for an editorial about
one inequality. What three main areas might be your rooms?
Show Answer
Sample “rooms” could be: causes of the inequality, its effects on young people, and possible solutions for schools or leaders.
Checkpoint 2: Building a Strong Argument Before You Draft
Mini-goal: See how prewriting helps you sharpen your opinion and consider counterarguments.
A powerful opinion editorial does more than describe a problem; it takes a position. For example, you might argue that governments must invest more in rural schools, or that communities should support girls’ education as part of building peaceful societies. This central message is sometimes called your focused opinion. Prewriting helps you test and refine this opinion before you write a long introduction or conclusion.
During prewriting, you can explore several possible opinions. Perhaps you first think, “Educational inequality in Asia and Africa is unfair.” That statement is true, but it is broad and hard to prove. As you brainstorm, you might note that unequal access to qualified teachers and technology is especially harmful. With more thinking, you could reshape your opinion into something clearer: “Governments and communities in Asia and Africa must invest in rural schools so that every learner can access qualified teachers and digital tools.” Now your opinion suggests who should act and how.
Prewriting is also the time to consider counterarguments. Ask yourself, “What might someone who disagrees say?” Maybe they argue that budgets are limited, or that families, not governments, should be responsible for education. When you list these counterarguments early, you can plan respectful responses. Later, in your draft, you will already know where to include them.
Thinking about your argument in advance saves time. Instead of changing your main point again and again while drafting, you settle on a strong opinion first. Then your paragraphs can focus on supporting that opinion, instead of wandering away from it.
Mini-summary: Prewriting lets you test different opinions, choose a clear focused opinion, and plan how to respond to counterarguments so your editorial has a strong, stable message.
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Rewrite the broad opinion “Inequality is bad” as a more focused
opinion related to education.
Show Answer
Example: “Governments should provide equal funding and qualified teachers to rural and urban schools to reduce educational inequality.” Your own sentence may differ but should be specific and actionable.
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Think of one counterargument someone could make against your focused
opinion. How might you answer it?
Show Answer
If someone says “There is not enough money,” you might answer that investing in education now prevents higher costs later, such as unemployment or conflict, making it a wise use of funds.
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Why is it helpful to meet counterarguments during prewriting instead
of waiting until after you draft?
Show Answer
Meeting counterarguments early helps you plan where to address them in your editorial, which leads to a more balanced and convincing argument.
Checkpoint 3: Gathering Evidence and Examples
Mini-goal: Learn how prewriting helps you identify the evidence you need for your argument.
An opinion without support is just a claim. To persuade readers about inequality, you need evidence. Evidence can include statistics from research organizations, quotes from experts, short personal stories, or descriptions of real situations in Asia and Africa. Prewriting is the stage where you ask, “What information will prove my point?” and “Where might I find it?”
Begin by listing the kinds of evidence that would strengthen your opinion. If you argue for better funding for rural schools, you might want a statistic about enrollment rates, an example of a school with few teachers, and a quote from a learner who walks long distances to class. You do not need to collect every detail right now, but you can write notes such as “look for data on rural enrollment” or “find story about technology gap.”
Prewriting also gives you time to think about source credibility. Ask yourself whether a source is reliable, recent, and relevant. A short article from a respected international organization may be more convincing than a random social media post. When you plan for credible evidence early, you avoid rushing later and using weak or inaccurate information.
Finally, consider the emotional impact of your evidence. A single story about a learner who cannot attend school because of conflict or poverty can help readers connect to the issue in a personal way. During prewriting, list possible stories or examples you could use, including any that you have experienced or observed yourself.
Mini-summary: Prewriting helps you decide what evidence you need, where to find it, and how to combine statistics, expert voices, and human stories to support your argument about inequality.
-
List three different types of evidence you might use in an opinion
editorial on educational inequality.
Show Answer
Possible answers: statistics on school enrollment, a quote from a teacher or expert, and a short story about a learner affected by unequal resources.
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Why is it important to think about source credibility during
prewriting?
Show Answer
Thinking about credibility early helps you choose trustworthy sources and avoid spreading misinformation, which strengthens your argument and builds reader trust.
-
In your notebook, write one sentence about the kind of story you
could include to show the human side of inequality.
Show Answer
Example: “I could describe a classmate who shares a single textbook with three others because the school cannot afford more copies.”
Checkpoint 4: Exploring Inequality Through SDG 10 and SDG 16
Mini-goal: Connect your prewriting about inequality to SDG 10 and SDG 16.
The Sustainable Development Goals give you a global language for talking about inequality and peace. SDG 10 aims to reduce inequalities within and among countries by improving access to opportunities, services, and decision-making. SDG 16 focuses on peace, justice, and strong institutions that protect people’s rights. When you link your prewriting to these goals, your opinion editorial becomes part of a wider conversation about building a fairer world.
Begin by thinking about the inequality issues you explored in Day 1: education, healthcare, economic opportunities, gender equality, and others. In your notebook, create a simple chart with three columns: “Type of inequality,” “How it affects people’s lives,” and “Connection to SDG 10 or SDG 16.” Fill in a few examples. For instance, unequal access to secondary education might limit job opportunities (SDG 10) and increase the risk of conflict (SDG 16) when some groups feel left behind.
As you build this chart, notice patterns. Are some types of inequality strongly linked to both goals? Do certain groups—such as rural learners, girls, or children from low-income families—appear again and again? These patterns can guide your choice of topic. They show where your opinion editorial might have the most impact.
Prewriting that uses SDG language can also help you frame your purpose. Instead of saying, “I want to write about inequality,” you might say, “I want to show how reducing educational inequality supports SDG 10 and SDG 16.” This gives your writing a clear direction and reminds readers that local actions connect to global goals.
Mini-summary: By linking inequality issues to SDG 10 and SDG 16 in your notes, you clarify who is affected, why it matters, and how your opinion editorial fits into global efforts for fairness and peace.
-
Choose one inequality issue and explain briefly how it connects to
SDG 10.
Show Answer
Example: Unequal access to quality schools connects to SDG 10 because it creates unfair differences in education and future income between groups.
-
Explain one way your chosen inequality might also affect peace or
justice (SDG 16).
Show Answer
If some groups consistently receive weaker education, they may feel excluded and powerless, which can lead to tension, protest, or conflict, affecting peace and justice.
-
Write one sentence that connects your future editorial idea to both
SDG 10 and SDG 16.
Show Answer
Sample sentence: “By investing in safe, well-resourced schools for rural communities, we reduce inequality and build more peaceful, just societies.”
Checkpoint 5: Narrowing a Broad Topic into a Manageable Focus
Mini-goal: Practice turning a broad global problem into a specific, manageable focus for prewriting.
“Global inequality in Asia and Africa” is an enormous topic. If you tried to cover every form of inequality in every country, your opinion editorial would become overwhelming. Prewriting helps you narrow the focus so your writing is deep rather than shallow. Narrowing is not about ignoring other problems; it is about choosing one slice that you can explain well within your word limit.
Start with a broad topic, such as “educational inequality in Asia and Africa.” Ask three narrowing questions: Who is most affected? Where does the problem appear strongly? Which part of the problem do you want to emphasize—access, quality, safety, technology, or something else? Your answers might lead you to a focus like “digital learning gaps for rural students in South Asia” or “barriers that prevent girls from attending secondary school in conflict-affected parts of Africa.”
In your notebook, create a simple ladder with three steps: Broad Topic, Narrowed Topic, and Focused Angle. On the first step, write a broad issue. On the second, limit it by group or place. On the third, highlight a specific angle you might argue about. For example, Broad Topic: “healthcare inequality in Africa.” Narrowed Topic: “healthcare inequality for children in remote villages.” Focused Angle: “governments should invest in mobile health clinics to reach remote children.”
As you narrow, check that your focus still connects to SDG 10 and SDG 16. A good focus is specific enough to handle in one editorial but broad enough to matter to more than one person. If your focus becomes tiny—such as “my friend’s school project last year”—zoom out again until it connects back to the wider global problem.
Mini-summary: Narrowing your topic during prewriting moves you from a huge global issue to a clear, manageable focus that still connects to SDG 10 and SDG 16.
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Take the topic “economic inequality in Asia.” Write one possible
narrowed version that focuses on a group or place.
Show Answer
Example: “economic inequality affecting migrant workers in major Asian cities.”
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Why might a very broad topic be difficult for readers to understand
in a short editorial?
Show Answer
A broad topic forces you to mention many ideas quickly, which can confuse readers and prevent you from explaining any point in depth.
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Write one question you still have about narrowing topics for opinion
editorials.
Show Answer
Sample question: “How narrow is too narrow for an opinion editorial that should interest a wide audience?” Your own question will guide future learning.
Checkpoint 6: Turning Prewriting into a Working Page
Mini-goal: Combine your ideas into one organized prewriting page for a future opinion editorial.
By now, you have considered planning, argument, evidence, SDG connections, and topic narrowing. This final checkpoint invites you to gather your thinking on one page. Open your notebook to a fresh sheet and divide it into four sections: “My Focused Topic,” “My Opinion,” “Reasons and Evidence,” and “Readers and Purpose.” You will not write full paragraphs yet; you will write notes and phrases that will support your later drafting.
In “My Focused Topic,” write the narrowed issue you want to explore, such as “barriers to secondary education for rural girls in East Africa.” Under “My Opinion,” state your focused opinion in one clear sentence. In “Reasons and Evidence,” list at least three reasons your opinion is important, leaving space to add evidence later. Finally, in “Readers and Purpose,” jot down who needs to read your editorial and what you hope they will think, feel, or do.
This working page does not need to be perfect. You can cross out words, rearrange order, or add arrows and stars. The goal is to leave today’s lesson with a visible record of your thinking. When you come back to prewriting on Days 3 and 4, you will already have a strong base instead of a blank page.
Mini-summary: A working prewriting page gathers your focused topic, opinion, reasons, evidence ideas, and target readers in one place so that future drafting will be faster and clearer.
-
Which section of your working page feels strongest right now: topic,
opinion, reasons, or readers? Why?
Show Answer
Your answer will vary. A thoughtful response explains which section you filled easily and which still feels uncertain, helping you plan what to improve next.
-
What is one piece of evidence you already know you want to use
later?
Show Answer
Example: “I want to use a statistic I read about the percentage of girls who leave school early in rural areas.”
-
How did prewriting today make the idea of writing an opinion
editorial feel easier or harder?
Show Answer
Many learners find that prewriting makes drafting feel less scary because they now have ideas organized; others may say it shows how much thinking is needed, but they still see its value.
💡 Example in Action
Study these worked examples to see how prewriting can shape a future opinion editorial on inequality.
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From Broad Topic to Focus
Broad topic: Inequality in Africa.
Prewriting task: Narrow it step by step.Show Answer
Sample narrowing: “inequality in Africa” → “educational inequality in Africa” → “lack of qualified teachers in rural African secondary schools” (final focus).
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Creating a Focused Opinion
Focus: Lack of qualified teachers in rural African secondary schools.
Prewriting task: Write a focused opinion sentence.Show Answer
Sample opinion: “National governments must invest in training and sending more qualified teachers to rural secondary schools so that all learners receive quality education.”
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Listing Reasons and Evidence
Prewriting task: List two reasons and one type of evidence for each.Show Answer
Reason 1: Rural learners receive weaker instruction, leading to lower exam results. Evidence: exam statistics comparing rural and urban schools.
Reason 2: Teacher shortages discourage families from keeping children in school. Evidence: a quote from a parent or school leader describing the problem. -
Connecting to SDG 10 and SDG 16
Prewriting task: Explain how the same focus links to both goals.Show Answer
Link to SDG 10: Reducing the teacher gap reduces inequality in education between rural and urban students. Link to SDG 16: Better education creates more informed citizens who can participate peacefully and fairly in society.
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Sketching a Simple Outline
Prewriting task: Turn the focus and reasons into a three-part outline.Show Answer
Sample outline: I. Introduction: describe one rural classroom and state focused opinion. II. Body: explain first reason with evidence, then second reason with evidence and brief counterargument. III. Conclusion: connect improved education to SDG 10 and SDG 16, ending with a call to invest in rural teachers.
📝 Try It Out
Answer these tasks in your notebook. Then compare with the suggested answers.
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In one or two sentences, explain why prewriting is like a blueprint
for a house.
Show Answer
Sample: Prewriting, like a blueprint, lets you decide where each part of your editorial will go before you build it. It helps you avoid confusion and wasted effort.
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List three prewriting activities you could use before drafting an
opinion editorial.
Show Answer
Possible answers: brainstorming list, idea web or concept map, outlining, quick freewriting, or making a chart of reasons and evidence.
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Write a broad topic related to inequality, then write one narrowed
version of it.
Show Answer
Example: Broad topic – “healthcare inequality in Asia and Africa.” Narrowed topic – “limited access to maternal healthcare for women in rural communities.”
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Create a short list of at least four possible evidence types you might
need for your narrowed topic.
Show Answer
Sample list: statistics from international reports, quotes from health workers or teachers, news stories about affected communities, and a brief personal observation or story.
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Write one focused opinion sentence about your narrowed topic.
Show Answer
Example: “Governments and aid organizations must fund mobile health clinics to reach women in remote areas who currently have little access to safe maternal care.”
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Identify your target readers for that opinion and briefly explain why
they should care.
Show Answer
Sample: Target readers could be local leaders and health officials because they can decide how to allocate health funds and design outreach programs.
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Write one possible counterargument to your opinion.
Show Answer
Example: “Mobile clinics are too expensive and difficult to maintain in remote areas.”
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In one or two sentences, write how you would respond to that
counterargument.
Show Answer
Sample: You might say that the long-term benefits of healthier mothers and babies, such as lower medical costs and stronger communities, outweigh the initial expense of mobile clinics.
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Connect your topic to either SDG 10 or SDG 16 in one sentence.
Show Answer
Example: “Reducing gaps in maternal healthcare supports SDG 10 because it gives women in remote areas fairer access to life-saving services.”
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On a clean page, start your own working prewriting sheet with headings
for Topic, Opinion, Reasons/Evidence, and Readers/Purpose.
Show Answer
Your sheet will be personal, but it should include a focused topic, one opinion sentence, at least two reasons, and a note about who you want to reach and why.
✅ Check Yourself
Use these items to check how well you understood today’s ideas about prewriting.
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Multiple-choice: Which statement best describes
prewriting?
a) Editing grammar after you write a draft.
b) Planning, brainstorming, and organizing ideas before drafting.
c) Writing the final version for publication.
d) Copying information from a source.Show Answer
The correct answer is b).
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Multiple-choice: Which of the following is not a
prewriting activity?
a) Listing reasons and evidence.
b) Creating an outline.
c) Checking spelling and punctuation.
d) Drawing a concept map.Show Answer
The correct answer is c).
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Short answer: Why is it important to narrow a broad topic before
writing an opinion editorial?
Show Answer
Narrowing helps you focus on one manageable issue so you can explain it clearly and support it with enough evidence, instead of trying to cover too many ideas at once.
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Multiple-choice: Which sentence is the best example of a
focused opinion?
a) Inequality is a big problem.
b) Education is very important.
c) Governments should invest in safe, well-equipped rural schools to reduce educational inequality.
d) The world is unfair.Show Answer
The correct answer is c).
-
Short answer: Give one reason why considering counterarguments during
prewriting is helpful.
Show Answer
It prepares you to answer objections in your editorial, making your argument stronger and showing that you have thought about other viewpoints.
-
Multiple-choice: Which of the following is the best example of
evidence?
a) “I think inequality is wrong.”
b) “Everyone knows schools are bad.”
c) A recent report shows that rural schools have half as many teachers per student as urban schools.
d) “Students should study harder.”Show Answer
The correct answer is c).
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Short answer: How can linking your topic to SDG 10 or SDG 16
strengthen your opinion editorial?
Show Answer
It shows that your issue is part of a recognized global effort, helping readers see its importance beyond one local situation.
-
Multiple-choice: Who are target readers?
a) The people you disagree with.
b) Anyone who ever reads anything.
c) Specific people or groups you most want to influence with your writing.
d) Only your teacher.Show Answer
The correct answer is c).
-
Short answer: Give one example of a possible target reader for an
editorial on educational inequality.
Show Answer
Examples: school administrators, local education officials, community leaders, or parents’ associations.
-
Multiple-choice: Which sentence best connects prewriting to a smoother
drafting process?
a) “Prewriting makes drafting slower.”
b) “Prewriting gives you a clear plan so you waste less time deciding what to write next.”
c) “Prewriting replaces drafting completely.”
d) “Prewriting is only for long books.”Show Answer
The correct answer is b).
-
Short answer: Write one question you could research to find evidence
for your chosen inequality topic.
Show Answer
Example: “What percentage of rural students finish secondary school compared with urban students in my chosen region?”
-
Multiple-choice: Which item belongs most clearly under “Reasons and
Evidence” on a prewriting page?
a) “My name and section.”
b) “Story about a girl who stopped school because there were no teachers.”
c) “The date.”
d) “A doodle of a house.”Show Answer
The correct answer is b).
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Short answer: How does prewriting show respect for your future
readers?
Show Answer
Prewriting shows that you care enough to organize your thoughts so readers can understand your message clearly and not waste time on confusion.
-
Multiple-choice: Which pair correctly matches SDG 10 and SDG 16?
a) SDG 10 – climate action; SDG 16 – life below water.
b) SDG 10 – reduced inequalities; SDG 16 – peace, justice, and strong institutions.
c) SDG 10 – quality education; SDG 16 – zero hunger.
d) SDG 10 – clean water; SDG 16 – affordable energy.Show Answer
The correct answer is b).
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Reflection check: In one or two sentences, explain which part of
prewriting you find most useful and why.
Show Answer
Sample answer: “I find outlining most useful because it shows me the order of my ideas and makes drafting less stressful.” Your own answer should name a specific prewriting step and a reason.
🚀 Go Further
Choose one or more activities if you want to deepen your prewriting skills or if you are a teacher planning extension tasks.
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Create a double-page spread in your notebook that compares two
different prewriting methods you tried today.
Show Answer
Teacher guidance: Ask learners to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of each method and to decide which one they will use for their actual opinion editorial.
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Collect one short article or infographic about an inequality issue and
highlight sentences that might serve as evidence.
Show Answer
Teacher guidance: Guide learners to check the source, date, and reliability of the material, modeling how to evaluate evidence before using it.
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With a partner, exchange prewriting pages and give each other one
suggestion to make the focus clearer.
Show Answer
Teacher guidance: Provide simple peer-feedback stems such as “Your topic is clear, but you could narrow it by…” or “I would like to know more about…”
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Turn your working prewriting page into a one-minute spoken “pitch” of
your future editorial.
Show Answer
Teacher guidance: Encourage learners to speak to a small group, focusing on topic, opinion, and why the issue matters for SDG 10 and SDG 16.
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Start a small “evidence bank” in your notebook where you record useful
facts, quotes, and stories about inequality as you encounter them.
Show Answer
Teacher guidance: Remind learners to note the source and date for each entry so citations can be added later if needed.
🔗 My Reflection
Notebook task: In 6–8 sentences, reflect on today’s work with prewriting.
- Which prewriting activity helped you understand your inequality topic most clearly?
- How did connecting your ideas to SDG 10 and SDG 16 change the way you see the issue?
- What is one step you will take before the next lesson to strengthen your working prewriting page?
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