#46 Make Use of Prewriting Strategies

Throughout one's academic career one will be expected to compose papers on a wide variety of topics. When writing these papers one should make use of prewriting methods rather than blindly producing your work. If used correctly the following procedures can stimulate thought and even help one to recall pertinent information discussed in class.

• Free writing can stimulate thought and ideas for your paper. Free writing involve jotting down potential ideas related to your topic. When free writing one should not focus on punctuation or grammar but rather “dumping” all potential ideas onto a paper.

• Similar to free writing listing is the act of jotting down ideas as quickly as possible. Unlike free writing listing is simply writing whatever pops into ones head without any attempt to construct full sentences.

• Clustering is the process of starting with a main idea and branching of with supporting details. clusters are usually presented as a graphical diagram, the main idea or topic residing in the middle. Below is an example of a cluster diagram.
  
  
  
  

• Collaborating is the act of conversing with either someone who is knowledgeable on the subject or with ones peers.

• Questioning can be used to gain insight on ones target audience or possible subject. One should ask who, what, when, where, why, and how.

More examples of free writing and other pertinent information can be found here.

Dylan Kennedy

04/17/12