Essay Planning for Dyslexic Brains: Getting Ideas Out of Your Head and Onto the Page
Quick Answer: Dyslexic students can plan essays more effectively by using visual mapping instead of linear outlines, speaking ideas aloud before writing them down, creating a "brain dump" document without worrying about order or spelling, using colour and spatial arrangement to show connections, and separating the planning stage completely from the writing stage. These strategies work because they bypass the challenges of organising thoughts through written language, letting you think first and structure second.
Essay planning when you're dyslexic often fails because traditional methods - bullet point outlines, structured plans - require you to think in the same linear, written format that's already difficult. Your brain might have brilliant ideas, but forcing them through a written linear plan before you've even started the essay creates an unnecessary barrier. These strategies let you plan in ways that match how your brain actually works.
1. Start with a visual map, not a written outline
When you know roughly what you want to say but can't organise it linearly: Put your main essay question or topic in the centre of a page and branch out with connected ideas using a spider diagram or mind map.
What to do: Use post-it notes if it helps - write one idea per note so you can move them around as connections become clearer. Different coloured post-its can represent different themes or types of information (evidence, arguments, examples, counter-points). Let it be messy - you're thinking, not presenting.
Why it works: Visual-spatial planning bypasses the need to sequence ideas into written order too early. You can see the whole argument at once and spot connections your brain wouldn't notice in a list. Post-it notes add flexibility - if something doesn't fit, you can move it without redrawing everything.
2. Speak your ideas before writing anything
When you have thoughts but they won't come out as written words: Talk through your essay as if you're explaining it to a friend. Record yourself or just speak aloud.
What to do: Use your phone's voice recorder or just talk to yourself. Explain: what's your argument? Why does it matter? What evidence supports it? Don't script it - just talk naturally. Listen back and jot down the key points you made.
Why it works: Many dyslexic people process and express ideas more fluently through speech than writing. Speaking first captures your thinking without the cognitive load of spelling, grammar, and sentence structure.
3. Create a "brain dump" document with zero pressure
When you're stuck because you're trying to plan perfectly from the start: Open a document and write every single thought about the essay without any concern for order, spelling, or coherence.
What to do: Write fragments, questions, half-formed thoughts, quotes you remember, examples that might be relevant. Use asterisks, capitals, or highlighting for different types of content. Don't delete anything. Don't organise yet.
Why it works: Separates idea generation from organisation. Your dyslexic brain doesn't have to do two hard things (generate ideas AND structure them) simultaneously. You can organise the mess later when all your thinking is visible.
4. Use physical movement or objects to plan
When sitting and writing feels impossible: Use post-it notes, index cards, or even objects to represent different parts of your argument that you can physically move around.
What to do: Write one idea per post-it (single word or short phrase). Stick them on a wall or table. Physically move them around to try different orders. Group related ideas together. Stand back and look at the arrangement.
Why it works: Spatial and kinaesthetic planning engages different parts of your brain than written planning. Physical manipulation can reveal structures and connections that are invisible when everything's on a screen.
5. Plan in reverse: start with your conclusion
When you can't figure out how to structure the middle: Write down what you want your essay to conclude first, then work backwards to figure out what needs to come before it.
What to do: State your final argument or answer in one sentence. Then ask: what does the reader need to understand for this conclusion to make sense? What evidence or explanation comes just before? Keep working backwards until you reach the introduction.
Why it works: Gives you a clear destination, which makes the route easier to see. Many dyslexic students find it easier to build towards a known endpoint than to plan forward into uncertainty.
6. Use section labels instead of full sentences
When you need some structure but paragraph-by-paragraph outlines feel overwhelming: Create simple section labels that describe the function of each part, not the content.
What to do: Label sections with their job: "Introduce main argument", "Evidence for X", "Counter-argument about Y", "Why that counter-argument doesn't work", "Conclusion". Put them in order. Don't write what you'll actually say yet.
Why it works: Functional labels are easier to manipulate than content-heavy outlines. You're building the skeleton first, which is simpler than trying to plan the whole body at once.
Common Questions About Essay Planning for Dyslexia
Do I have to show my tutor my messy planning? No. Your planning is for you. What you submit is the finished essay. However, some tutors appreciate seeing planning work in progress if you're struggling - it helps them understand where you need support.
What if my plan doesn't look like the "proper" essay plans we're taught? That doesn't matter. Essay plans are tools to help you write, not standardised products. If a spider diagram, voice recording, or pile of post-its gets you to a coherent essay, it's a good plan.
Should I use planning software or templates? Only if they help rather than constrain you. Some dyslexic students love structured templates because they provide scaffolding. Others find them restrictive. Try a few approaches and keep what works.
How detailed should my plan be? Just detailed enough to start writing. For some students that's a rough visual map. For others it's a list of section headings. You'll know your plan is ready when you can look at it and know what to write first.
When Planning Remains Difficult
If essay planning is a consistent barrier across multiple assignments, specialist study skills support through DSA can help. A specialist tutor can work with you to develop planning strategies tailored to your specific course, assignment types, and thinking style. They can also help you communicate your planning approach to tutors if needed.
