The clustering approach is a method of essay writing for students who struggle with their writing skills. Using a simple formula, students can learn to map out the essential points in an essay question and then use those points to create a series of paragraphs, including an introduction and a conclusion, that will construct an essay to answer the question fully.  It is an integrated, visual approach to essay writing that uses boxes and line connectors to map out essay content in a step-by-step progression. This manual shows instructors how to formulate the kinds of questions that make it easier for students to use this approach when writing essays for English or social studies tests.

There is a version of this book that is directed toward the students themselves. It teaches them how to use the clustering approach to write essays. (See below.)