Before You Begin Writing

Why Am I Writing?Why Am I Writing?

What Should I Say?What Should I Say?

Organizing and OutliningOrganizing and Outlining

Focusing and PlanningFocusing and Planning

Why Am I Writing?

Determine:Determine:subject, subject, audience, audience, goal (purpose), and goal (purpose), and form of your writing.form of your writing.

What Should I Say?

““The best way to have a good idea is to The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.”have lots of ideas.” Dr. Linus Pauling (1901-1994), winner of the 1954 Nobel Prize Dr. Linus Pauling (1901-1994), winner of the 1954 Nobel Prize

for chemistry and the 1962 Nobel Peace Prizefor chemistry and the 1962 Nobel Peace Prize

““I think I did pretty well, considering I I think I did pretty well, considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper.”blank paper.” Steve Martin (1945- ), American comedian, actor and writer.Steve Martin (1945- ), American comedian, actor and writer.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming helps you generate ideas about a Brainstorming helps you generate ideas about a topic.topic. When you brainstorm, you write down every When you brainstorm, you write down every

idea that pops into your mind about a topic. idea that pops into your mind about a topic. Good ideas, bad ideas, funny ideas, stupid ideasGood ideas, bad ideas, funny ideas, stupid ideas—write them all down as soon as you think of —write them all down as soon as you think of them. The important thing is to get as many them. The important thing is to get as many ideas down on paper as fast as you can.ideas down on paper as fast as you can.

Brainstorming

You don’t have to use every idea that you You don’t have to use every idea that you write down.write down. When you are brainstorming, don’t judge When you are brainstorming, don’t judge

your ideas, just write them down. You your ideas, just write them down. You want ideas of all kinds. You probably want ideas of all kinds. You probably won’t use them all, but you can decide won’t use them all, but you can decide later which ones to keep and which ones later which ones to keep and which ones to throw away.to throw away.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming doesn’t have to be neat.Brainstorming doesn’t have to be neat. You can brainstorm your ideas in the You can brainstorm your ideas in the

form of a list, or you can simply write all form of a list, or you can simply write all over the page. Many students find it over the page. Many students find it helpful to use a helpful to use a clusteringclustering method (or method (or web) because it allows them to show how web) because it allows them to show how their ideas are related to each other.their ideas are related to each other.

Freewriting

Freewriting is another good way to come up Freewriting is another good way to come up with ideas. It’s most useful when you have with ideas. It’s most useful when you have the beginning of an idea and you want to the beginning of an idea and you want to figure out where to go with it. figure out where to go with it.

““Write freely and as rapidly as possible and Write freely and as rapidly as possible and throw the whole thing on paper. Never throw the whole thing on paper. Never correct until the whole thing is down.”correct until the whole thing is down.” John Steinbeck (1902-1968), American author of John Steinbeck (1902-1968), American author of The Grapes of Wrath, Of The Grapes of Wrath, Of

Mice and Men, Mice and Men, and other novels.and other novels.

Freewriting

To freewrite, just start writing and keep going To freewrite, just start writing and keep going for a minute or two.for a minute or two. Keep your pencil on the paper and write Keep your pencil on the paper and write

whatever comes into your mind. Instead of whatever comes into your mind. Instead of simply writing words and phrases, however, try simply writing words and phrases, however, try stringing them together into complete thoughts. stringing them together into complete thoughts. Grammar, punctuation, and spelling don’t Grammar, punctuation, and spelling don’t matter at this point. Working the idea through matter at this point. Working the idea through in your mind is what is important. You can in your mind is what is important. You can polish your writing later.polish your writing later.

Freewriting

Your freewriting is not your final draftYour freewriting is not your final draft

Organizing and Outlining

Once you have generated ideas Once you have generated ideas about your topic, you will need to about your topic, you will need to organize them.organize them.

Graphic Organizers

Graphic organizers can help you gather Graphic organizers can help you gather ideas and organize them visually.ideas and organize them visually. Using a graphic organizer allows you to Using a graphic organizer allows you to

see how all your ideas are connected to see how all your ideas are connected to each other. Graphic organizers can help each other. Graphic organizers can help you give information, compare and you give information, compare and contrast ideas, define concepts, show contrast ideas, define concepts, show causes and effects, or categorize items.causes and effects, or categorize items.

Graphic Organizers

Use a graphic organizer that is easy for Use a graphic organizer that is easy for you to read and understandyou to read and understand There are many types of graphic There are many types of graphic

organizers. Find one that works well for organizers. Find one that works well for you.you.

Use a graphic organizer to help you plan Use a graphic organizer to help you plan your writing.your writing.

Outlining

The best compositions include an introduction, a The best compositions include an introduction, a body, and a conclusionbody, and a conclusion The The introductionintroduction (the beginning) gets the reader’s attention, tells (the beginning) gets the reader’s attention, tells

what the subject is, and lets the reader know what to expect. In what the subject is, and lets the reader know what to expect. In shorter essays (such as the kind you’ll most often be asked to write shorter essays (such as the kind you’ll most often be asked to write for school), the introduction is usually a single paragraph made up for school), the introduction is usually a single paragraph made up of several sentences.of several sentences.

The The bodybody (the middle) explains the subject in depth, giving details (the middle) explains the subject in depth, giving details and examples to support the ideas. This part of the composition and examples to support the ideas. This part of the composition may contain several paragraphs.may contain several paragraphs.

The The conclusionconclusion (the end) wraps up the composition, usually by (the end) wraps up the composition, usually by giving the reader a summary of what was written. Like the giving the reader a summary of what was written. Like the introduction, it is usually one paragraph long.introduction, it is usually one paragraph long.

Outlining

An outline is one way to organize your ideas.An outline is one way to organize your ideas. An outline lists the main idea for each part of An outline lists the main idea for each part of

the composition, along with the important the composition, along with the important supporting details and examples you plan to supporting details and examples you plan to use.use.

Think of an outline as a plan for writing.Think of an outline as a plan for writing. When you make your outline in advance, the When you make your outline in advance, the

writing process will be easier. You will already writing process will be easier. You will already have a clear plan for what you’re going to say have a clear plan for what you’re going to say before you begin writing.before you begin writing.