Take a look at the Pyramid Principle [pdf] http://www.consultingmethodology.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Pyramid-principle_consulting-methodology.pdf http://w

Take a look at the Pyramid Principle [pdf] http://www.consultingmethodology.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Pyramid-principle_consulting-methodology.pdf http://www.consultingmethodology.com/wp-content/uploads/2014..., developed by Barbara Minto from Mckinsey Consulting. It provides a framework for structuring your thoughts and helping you identify the most important points for your essay, blog post, presentation. The journalism pyramid does similar but to my mind has less of a methodology.