Mrs. Ling, a sixth-grade English teacher, is introducing an instructional assignment to promote her students' writing skills. Before she provides the writing assignment, she asks each student to think of a person they view as a role model and then list five characteristics they like about their role model. Once each student has completed the activity, she instructs her students to construct a three-paragraph essay about what makes a good role model. Which of the following is the most beneficial reason for the teacher to ask each student to list five characteristics of their role model? A. It allows the teacher to identify a foundation to help the students begin their writing activity.
B. It allows each student to write about something they want to write about.
C. It promotes students' creativity outside the structure of a classroom activity.
D. It stimulates the students' creativity and gives them a beginning outline for their essay.