Unit 2, Lesson 2

Brainstorming

Commonly refers to one or more people writing down any idea that comes to mind The ideas are often put in lists or outlines A to-do list is brainstorming Choosing this strategy doesn't mean the lists can't be rearranged after the process; if you begin with the list, you can always make connections between ideas & revise them as you get further along in the writing process

Prewriting is used to

Determine a topic Generate, clarify, & organize ideas Get concrete details down Gather as much information as possible Prevent the writer from getting stuck Develop a logical structure from beginning to end

Cut and Paste

The cut and paste feature of any word-processing program can be very helpful when organizing ideas Write a list regardless of the order of topics, & then cut & paste to arrange the topics in like groupings

Brainstorming with Technology

When brainstorming in a group project, you can communicate by text message, email, or instant messaging; it might also be possible to post ideas on an online community forum

Freewriting on a Computer

When doing this, turn the contrast on the screen down or cover the screen with a piece of paper; this will help to keep you from editing or rereading the content you have typed

Charts, Tables, & Diagrams

Can help people organize ideas This type of prewriting allows the writer to organize as the ideas are being created A commonly used diagram for prewriting is the Venn diagram; it can be used to organize the differences & similarities between topics

Journalist Questions

Guides the writer to answer the questions who, what, when, where, why, and how It can be used to ensure that all aspects of a topic are covered

Graphic Organizers

Many graphic organizers such as cluster charts, Venn diagrams, charts, & tables can be downloaded Search the Internet for any tool that might be useful

Freewriting

Occurs when the writer simply writes or types continuously for a period of 5 to 10 minutes The key is to continue writing even if you get stuck The writer shouldn't go back & reread the content nor edit the content because this may keep ideas from surfacing

Clustering

A cluster is a group of things In prewriting, a cluster can be used for ideas that may have no obvious connection Ideas can be written randomly around the page, & then the writer can draw lines if connections are found A different type of cluster is mind mapping or idea mapping; it usually begins with a main idea in the center & then several branches for related ideas; these new ideas can have their own branches if more concepts are being explored; because of the branches, this clustering technique is also referred to as a web

prewriting

organizing and generating ideas before beginning to write