1. Name:Date:Writing B3 – Searching and Shaping a Subject(Develop the following exercises on a separate piece of paper.)<br />1. Brainstorming, Clustering and Listing<br />Begin a cluster with a nucleus word. Select a word that is related to your writing topic or assignment. Record words which come to mind when you think of this word. Don’t pick and choose; record every word. Circle each word as you write it, and draw a line connecting it to the closest related word. <br />2. Scrap Writing<br />Write freely about your subject, according to the following writing instructions:<br />Describe it. What do you see, hear, feel, smell, taste…?<br />Compare it. What is it like? What is it different from?<br />Associate it. What connections between this and something else come to mind?<br />Analyze it. What parts does it have? How do they work (or not work) together?<br />Apply it. What can you do with it? How can you use it?<br />Argue for or against it. (seriously or humorously) <br />3. 5 W’s of Writing<br />Answer the 5 W’s – Who? What? Where? When and Why? – to identify basic information about your subject. Add How? to the list for even better coverage. (Helpful Hint: Keep asking Why? about your subject until you run completely out of answers.)<br /> <br />