The document provides instructions for an exercise where the reader chooses one word that is important to them, answers questions to brainstorm its meaning and significance, and uses that information to draft the beginning of an essay about the word. The reader is asked to fold a sheet of paper into four squares to write answers to questions like why the word is important, what it means, and how it could change their life. Further questions explore how the word sounds and its opposite. The reader is then prompted to order the brainstormed ideas into an essay outline responding to the questions of what the reader needs to know first and next.

1. One Little WordExpanding your ideas.

2. DirectionsFold a sheet of blank paper into four squares. Write the answer to each of these questions in the blank squares.

3. QuestionsWhy is your word important to you? What does your word mean to you? How do you think your word can change your life? If your word were a color, what color would it be? Explain.

4. More questionsDescribe how your word sounds when it is said aloud. What is the opposite of your word?Is your word a verb or a noun? (Does it matter?)What other words does your word remind of you? In other words, where does your word take you?

5. Organizing your ideas.Moving from ideas to essay.

6. Just TWO questionsUse these two questions to order the information you have just brainstormed. What does the reader need to know? What does the reader need to know next? What does the reader need to know next? ...

7. Write your first draft!