Pre-Writing Strategies

1
Pre-Writing Strategies

• Several options for getting paper writing ideas
  on paper!

2
Reading Audience

• Instructing students on how to approach a reading
  assignment for which they will write a paper will
  help the pre-writing process.
• Always consider Audience

3
Six Pre-Writing Strategies

• Freewriting
• Visualizing
• Listing
• Outlining
• Clustering/Webbing
• Cubing

4
Freewriting

• Freewriting simply means putting your pen to the
  paper and writing whatever comes into your head
  about an assigned writing topic.
• Time yourself for at least five minutes. 
• Read the topic, think about some ideas and then
  begin writing. 
• Don't worry about grammar or punctuation -- the
  purpose of free- writing is to
  get ideas written out without worrying about
  other issues.
• The key is to keep writing, even when you are
  having difficulty thinking of something to say.

5
Visualization

• After you have decided on the experience you will
  write about, close your eyes, and try to remember
  the sensory details of the experience
• Sight What did you see during this
  experience? did the the people and environment
  look like?  What things were in the room? 
  People?   What did they look like?
• Sound What sounds did you hear? 
  Traffic sounds? birds? music? What were people
  saying?  Was it silent or noisy?
• Smell What smells did you smell?
  Smoke? Cooking smells/ Perfume? Crayons?  Sweat?
• Taste What did your mouth taste like? 
  Mint gum? dry with fear?
• Touch What did you feel?  Stomach ache?
  Head ache?  Cold or hot?
• After you are done imagining all of the
  senses involved (this should take from 10-15
  minutes) open your eyes, and do some listing or
  free-writing about the details you remember.

6
Listing

• Generate a list of all the things you think of
  related to your topic.
• You can think of your list as a sort of grocery
  list of the items that make up your topic.

7
Outlining

• Outlining is a good way to organize your ideas. 
  It's best to use an outline after you've done
  some freewriting, listing or clustering.  It's
  also good to use an outline after you've written
  the first draft to help you organize your
  paragraphs and sentences.
• EXAMPLE
• Intro and Thesis Although it encourages moral
  behavior, "The Smurfs" reinforces stereotypical
  gender roles.
• Body of paper Background, basic description of
  the show
• Moral behavior the smurfs model
  prosocial friendship behavior
• Moral behavior importance of
  communitytransition
• BUT PROBLEMS WITH GENDER
• Description of feminine
  characteristics Smurfette as a stereotype
• Smurfette restricted to
  home-based, nurturing role in the show
• Masculine characteristics in other
  Smurfs
• Male Smurfs go on adventures
• How smurfs reflect gender
  stereotypes in commercials and society
• Consequences Possible messages this show sends
  to kids

8
Clustering/Webbing

• Clustering is another way to record your thoughts
  and observations for writing a paragraph or essay
• 1. First, in a circle near the center of the
  page, write out the subject of your essay or
  paragraph.
• 2. Then write down other ideas that relate to
  your central ideas -- use lines and circles to
  "map" how the different aspects of your topic
  will relate to each other.

9
Cubing

• CUBING is a way of getting six different
  perspectives (like the six sides of a cube) on
  your topic and generating some complex claims and
  evidence for your paper.
• 1 Description/Definition Write 4-5 sentences
  describing your topic. Define the culture and the
  time period and the age on which you want to
  focus. Define and describe characteristics of
  your topic.
• 2 Association What memories, thoughts,
  examples, experiences do you have with this
  specific topic? Write 4-5 sentences that focus on
  a vivid memory or example. Use sensory details
  and dialogue. GET CONCRETE!
• 3 Comparison How is (your focus topic)
  different from or similar to __________? Compare
  your focus topic to something else.  Write 4-5
  sentences comparing your topic to something
  related to it.
• 4 Analysis Why is it this way? Give some
  reasons or possible causes for the issue you are
  discussing. Give some supporting details,
  evidence. Are there any controversial debates
  associated with your topic? What issues are
  people concerned with? Write 4-5 sentences
  answering these questions.
• 5 Application What are the results or
  consequences of this situation? How does this
  affect individual people and the society they
  live in?  Write 4-5 sentences.
• 6 Argumentation What is your opinion about
  this situation?  Do you have any social criticism
  or recommendations for what should be done? How
  should things change? Or not change?  Write 4-5
  sentences.

10
Website Info

• http//flightline.highline.edu/writing99/assignmen
  ts/prewriting_strategies.htm