Pre-writing techniques such as brainstorming, freewriting, making lists, journaling, and using graphic organizers can help writers get their ideas flowing and organized before starting a draft. These techniques encourage exploring topics from different angles without worrying about structure or perfection. They can include freely writing about a topic, making notes, drawing mind maps, and using diagrams to show relationships between ideas. The key is finding the methods that work best for preparing and focusing individual thinking before beginning the writing process.

1. Pre-writing techniques ENGL 015– Penn State Abington – Fall 2011

2. Writing works the same way. Preparation is the key to good writing. Would you jump into an empty pool?

4. Focus your thinking

5. Organize your ideasPre-writing Techniques

6. Brainstorming Let it ALL out! Don’t restrict yourself on this step. Sketch, write, talk out loud – whatever gets you thinking

7. Various ways of writing out your ideas including freewriting, journaling and lists. Written organizers

8. Freewriting Specified time period. Don’t worry about grammar/spelling. Just write! Don’t stop until time is up.

9. Lists Write down characteristics of your topic. Look for commonalities. Pros/Cons, Causes/Effects

10. Journaling Keep a notebook and write every day OR Collect “snippets” – photos, articles, notes, etc. Look for inspiration in your collection Look for common threads

11. Visual depictions of your ideas including Mind Maps/clustering, fishbone maps and other charts. Graphic Organizers

12. Fishbone Fill in what you know to start – add info as you develop your ideas.

13. Mind Maps Details Main Idea Reviewing Science & Chemical Formulas, Source: Revise GCSE Science Single Award by Eileen Ramsden, David Applin with Tony Buzan, Mind Map by: Patrick Mayfield

14. Ven Diagrams Ven Diagrams are useful to determine where two ideas cross-over. For instance, you might use a Ven Diagram to think about relationships in a Compare/Contrast essay. www.brighthub.com/.../k-12/articles/42282.aspx

15. Most importantly…use what works for you! Prewriting = Preparation = Better Essays