Pre-writing: Brainstorming
Brainstorming is one of the most important steps in the process of writing. This is the time to get all the ideas, frustrations, obstacles, promises, hope, and dreams for this essay down on paper. There are no wrong answers, only more choices. Get down everything - EVERYTHING - that comes to mind on that page, regardless of whether it goes along with the initial plan or not. I always tell my students when it comes to writing, more is always best. Everything doesn't have to be used but it is hard to get something back once the task is done - you never know what can help in the future.
Steps to Brainstorming:
1. Use a GO (graphic organizer) to help you. Choose one of the GO available
or create your own.
2. Jot down everything that comes to mind when you think of the topic:
What happened? Who said what? Where did it happen? What colors,
smells, and tastes do you remember? What is significant about that piece
of literature?
3. Look at the ideas you have written down - connect the ideas that go
together, eliminate the ones that do not, and begin to form categories on
how those ideas can be used.
4. Begin thinking about what three ideas you would like to focus on in the
essay and the Thesis Statement.
Steps to Brainstorming:
1. Use a GO (graphic organizer) to help you. Choose one of the GO available
or create your own.
2. Jot down everything that comes to mind when you think of the topic:
What happened? Who said what? Where did it happen? What colors,
smells, and tastes do you remember? What is significant about that piece
of literature?
3. Look at the ideas you have written down - connect the ideas that go
together, eliminate the ones that do not, and begin to form categories on
how those ideas can be used.
4. Begin thinking about what three ideas you would like to focus on in the
essay and the Thesis Statement.
