The Struggle: “I Cannot Process My Thoughts and Get Them Down on Paper.”

Last weekend, I was coaching a Leaving Cert student who was completely overwhelmed. She was preparing for her mock exams. We decided to look at English and in particular her English Paper 2 comparative study essay.

She looked at me and said:

“I cannot process my thoughts and get them down on paper.”

This is something I hear all the time from students—especially those who struggle with information processing, executive function, or just general exam anxiety.

It should also be noted that this student has DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder)/dyspraxia. Many students who have learning differences find learning and exams challenging especially in high stakes situations.

They know what they want to say, but when they try to write, their thoughts feel jumbled, disorganized, and stuck in their head.

I could see the pain etched in her face as she described her challenge.

So, how can we help?

The Solution: Using a Mind Map to Structure an Essay

Instead of telling her to “just start writing,” I asked her a question:

“Do you use Mind Maps?”

She scrunched her nose and said “Nope, I don’t like them. They are too messy.”

Bingo. My perfectionist radar went into red alert.

“You don’t like them because you are a perfectionist,” I told her.

This student has perfectionist tendencies and we had worked previously on how this was sabotaging her ability to get work submitted and hit deadlines.

I told her to embrace the ‘messiness’ and see the Mind Map for what it is—a visual tool that breaks complex thoughts into simple, structured ideas.

“It’s a visual cheat sheet.” I said.

We took a real-life example from the Leaving Cert English Comparative Study and created a mind map together.

Here’s how it worked:

Step 1: Write the Essay Question in the Centre of the page

We started with a blank page and placed the essay question in the middle of the page.

Example question:

📌 “Compare how three texts you have studied explore various themes.”

Step 2: Create 3-4 Main Branches (Key Themes/Arguments)

Around the question, we drew three main branches, each representing a key theme or argument.

For example, for a Comparative Study, the branches could be:

✅ Text Themes – compare how the book, play and movie handle major themes.

✅ Writing Style & Techniques – How each author/director present these themes differently.

✅ Character Development – How relationships in each text reflect the themes.

Step 3: Add Sub-Branches with Supporting Points

From each main branch, we added smaller branches with key examples, quotes, and points.

Example for Character Development:

📖 Text 1: “The Shawshank Redemption” – Andy Dufresne, locked in prison, grapples with freedom

📖 Text 2: “The Crucible” – Arthur Miller’s take on the Salem Witch Trials.

This made it easy for her to see connections between texts and plan a structured essay.

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Mind Map rough draft essay plan (start top right, read going clockwise)

The Transformation: From Overwhelmed to Confident

At the start of the session, my student looked like her head was stuck in a sandwich maker.

By the end, she looked at her mind map and beamed:

“This is a lot better! I can actually see what I need to write!”

Instead of staring at a blank page, she now had a clear roadmap for her essay.

No more overwhelm. No more anxiety. Just a clear, structured plan.

How You Can Use This with Your Teenager or Students

If your child or student struggles to get thoughts onto paper, try this:

• Step 1: Start with a question or topic in the centre.
• Step 2: Draw 3-4 main branches (key themes or arguments).
• Step 3: Add supporting details, quotes, and examples.
• Step 4: Use the mind map as a guide to write the essay step-by-step.

It’s simple, visual, and takes away the fear of the blank page.

Final Thought: Small Wins Build Confidence

Many students, especially those with DCD, ADHD, dyslexia or anxiety, struggle not because they are not smart or don’t know the content. They struggle because they don’t know how to organize their thoughts. They just don’t have the tools.

A Mind Map can be a game-changer because:

✔️ It reduces overwhelm.

✔️ It gives a clear structure.

✔️ It makes writing feel doable.

If your child is gearing up for big set of exams and feeling stuck, give this a try. Try introducing a mind map as a tool to help them.

And if they’re still struggling? Reach out—I’m here to help. Very quickly we can go from chaos to clarity!

Until next time, keep RAYSING THE GAME!