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.

Guiding students through essays can be done in ways to make it easier for the students, when this method is applied by train teacher, the students would have the ability to explore; think outside the box and be creative with whatever response they are giving. This is what Mrs. Ling, a sixth-grade English teacher, is doing, she is helping the students have a foundation about the essay they are about to write, which would improve their writing ability.