This document discusses various prewriting techniques that can be used before drafting a first writing. It explains that prewriting is the first step of the writing process and involves thinking about the writing purpose and audience as well as generating ideas. Some specific prewriting techniques described include listing, free writing, clustering, and cubing. Listing involves jotting down any ideas that come to mind without worrying about structure. Free writing involves continuously writing about the topic for 10-15 minutes without editing. Clustering maps out ideas that are related. Cubing looks at a topic from six different perspectives: describing, comparing, associating, analyzing, applying, and arguing.

1. Use the right brain to
generate ideas first!!!

2. Prewriting
Techniques

3. Prewriting
• first step in the
traditional writing
process
• ANYTHING you do
before writing your
first draft

4. Prewriting
• thinking about your writing purpose
(what you are trying to communicate
and why it is important) and
audience (to whom you are trying to
communicate)
• generate ideas about a topic

5. Pre Writing Techniques
•Listing
•Free writing
•Clustering
•Cubing

6. Listing
• Jot down every idea you have about
your topic. Free-associate; don’t hold
back anything.
• Write everything down in a list form

7. Listing
• can be one word, a phrase, an entire
sentence, or more
• Do not worry about grammar and
spelling at this point, just get your
thoughts on paper

8. Free writing
• Take out a blank sheet of paper or open a
new word document
• Begin writing for at least ten to fifteen
minutes.
• Write whatever comes to your mind
about your subject.

9. Free writing
• Do not worry about
spelling, punctuation, or
grammar
• Do not change, correct, or delete
anything

10. Free writing
• If you cannot think of something to
write about, just write “I can’t think
of anything to write right now; I’m
stumped.” Simply keep writing until a
new thought comes into your mind.

11. Clustering
• Place your general subject in a circle in
the middle of a blank sheet of paper
• Begin to draw other lines or circles that
shoot out from the original topic
• Cluster the ideas that seem to go
together

12. Clustering

13. Cubing
•looks at a topic from
six different angles

14. 6 Angles of the cube
•Describing
• Comparing
• Associating

15. 6 Angles of the cube
•Analyzing
• Applying
•Arguing

16. a. Describe it
• What does your subject look like?
• What size, colors, texture does it
have?
• Any special features worth
noting?

17. b. Compare or contrast it
• What is your subject similar
to?
• What is your subject different
from? In what ways?

18. c. Free-associate it
• What does this subject remind
you of?
• What does it call to mind?
• What memories does it conjure
up?

19. d. Analyze it
•How does it work?
•How are the parts
connected?
•What is its significance?

20. e. Argue for or against it
• What arguments can you make for or
against your subject?
• What advantages or disadvantages does
it have?
• What changes or improvements should
be made?

21. f. Apply it
• What are the uses of your
subject?
• What can you do with it?

22. Let’s Review
1. Differentiate Cyclical and Linear Writers.
2. What are the stages of Writing?
3. What are the prewriting techniques?
4. Choose one prewriting technique and explain
it briefly.
5. Why is it important to do a prewriting
activity?

23. References
• Plata, Sterling M., Ph. D. et.al. (2006). Keys to Critical
Reading and Writing 1. 2nd Ed. Biñan, Laguna:
Trailblazer Publications.
• Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. A Writer’s
Reference. 7th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011.
Print.
• “Techniques for Creating (Prewriting).” Johnson
Community College Writing Center. 2010. PDF file.