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Depth beats breadth
10 minutes is enough to develop one example properly — not enough to develop three. Here's how to spend it, worked through with a real prompt.
The mistake to avoid
Listing several thin reasons instead of developing one properly. Reads as a list, not an argument.
"Competition is important because it motivates people. It also helps people improve. Teamwork is also good sometimes."
Three unexplained claims — nothing concrete for the reader to picture.
What "developed" means
One reason + one specific detail + the "so what" — why that detail actually supports your position.
"Cooperation matters because teams work well together." — too generic
"The biggest achievements — a product launch, a research breakthrough — come from a team combining different skills."
The 10-minute budget
~2 min pick your one example, ~7 min develop it fully, ~1 min check you've engaged a classmate.
Pick early — still deciding at minute 3 means no time left to develop it.
Full example
Real prompt: Professor Reyes — competition vs. cooperation. Tariq says competition; Elena says cooperation.
One position, one developed example, one engagement
"I believe cooperation matters more for success. The biggest achievements come from a team combining different skills, not one person outcompeting everyone else. As Tariq points out, competition pushes people to work harder — but that effort only becomes real achievement when channeled into a shared goal."
DEB
4 things to know about developing 1 example
Audio: DEB (ElevenLabs)