1. Success with Writing
Online Workshop
Part 6: Brainstorming and Planning
Created by: Jane Mangano
2. What is next?
• Brainstorm for supporting evidence and
examples.
• What questions do I need to explore in order
to support my arguments?
3. Why is brainstorming so important?
• Write a few sentences answering this
question: Why is brainstorming so helpful as
you create your provisional plan?
4. Answer
• Why is brainstorming an important step?
• Brainstorming gives you the beginnings of a writing plan – at a time
when you are close to the question and therefore less likely to miss
parts of it.
• You should notice a central theme or argument emerging.
• This process also helps you to focus your research by raising more
specific questions to answer (this helps to minimise unfocused
meandering through the set reading).
• It further helps by giving you some ideas about what you might
want to write about. Keep in mind that, as you discover more about
the topic, your ideas will shift and change. This is part of the
process.
• http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/asu/download/Writing-TertiaryEssayWriting-
booklet.pdf
5. A question ...
• Why is it a good idea to have developed a
provisional plan before you begin your
research?
7. An example
• Discuss and evaluate the legal approach to
euthanasia and criminal responsibility in
Victoria. (2000 words)
• Where would you begin if you didn’t have a
plan?
• What would you search for?
8. Provisional Plan
• Introduction (150 words).
• 2. Discussion of the current state of the law on euthanasia
and criminal responsibility in Victoria (400 words).
• 3. Evaluation of the current situation
• A. What are the problems with the current law?
What/who are the drivers of reform? Include detailed
discussion of the most recent/influential case (600 words).
• B. What reform proposals are there? Are they viable? How
have these problems been addressed elsewhere? What
conclusions/ recommendations can I make about the
current state of law (700 words)?
• 4. Conclusion (150 words).
http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/asu/download/Writing-TertiaryEssayWriting-
booklet.pdf
9. Time to have a go
• Take your provisional • Fulltime study may
thesis statement. impact upon mature
• Use the brainstorm age students socially,
strategy to create a emotionally and
provisional plan. financially.
10. Fulltime study may impact upon mature age
students socially, emotionally and financially.
• Body Para 1: Social impacts • Body Para 3: Financial impacts
• Do students lose touch with • Are students’ incomes reduced
old networks? when they return to study?
• Do students develop new • Do students enjoy greater
social networks through uni? earning potential once they
• Body Para 2: Emotional graduate?
impacts • Conclusion
• Do students enjoy increased • Negative impacts appear to be
self esteem when they achieve short term. Appear to be long
good marks? term positive impacts that
• Do students experience make returning to fulltime
lowered self esteem as they study worthwhile.
struggle with demands of
university?
11. Provisional means ‘provisional’
• Once you have done your research, it is likely
your provisional plan will change and develop.
• That’s why it is called a ‘provisional’ plan ...
12. Find and evaluate resources
• Start with your reading • How many references?
list • The more recent, the
• Visit the Library. better (general rule).
• Ask for help.
• Go to Library
workshops.
13. Note Taking
• Be selective
• Point form
• In your own words
• Use your plan as a guide
• Read critically
• Adapted from University of Melbourne ‘Language and Learning
Skills Unit Tertiary Essay Writing’
• http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/asu/download/Writing-
TertiaryEssayWriting-booklet.pdf
14. Know when to stop
• How do you know when to stop?
15. Create a plan ‘take two’
• Revisit your first plan
• Do you need to change it? Add more main ideas
or supporting arguments/evidence/examples?
• Revise what will be included in your introduction
(particularly the thesis statement)
• What are your main ideas for each body
paragraph? What examples or evidence will you
use to support each main idea?
• How will you conclude? Restatement of thesis?
Recommendation? Prediction? Final comment?
16. First Draft
Having prepared so thoroughly, you WILL be okay!
Follow your plan – some students like to write the
body paragraphs first.
Let your ideas flow, while following your plan.
Don’t labour over grammar, spelling or
presentation at this stage.
If you really are struggling to write, you may need
to go back to the planning stage.
17. Editing Checklist
• Have you answered the question?
• Is the introduction clear and effective?
• Have you defined key words (if appropriate)?
• Is the thesis clearly stated? Does the introduction provide a map
of the essay?
• Does each body paragraph have a topic sentence?
• Do all other sentences clearly support the topic sentence?
• Have you used transition signals to link each body paragraph?
• Is your conclusion clearly stated?
• Are any sections repetitive?
• Have you referenced all ideas throughout the essay?
• Have you included a reference list?
• Have you followed the correct referencing style?
18. Preparing the final draft
• Good idea to have a break before preparing the final
draft.
• Check the format requirements – these should be in
your unit outline.
• Proofread, proofread, proofread, proofread!!!
•
• Fill in the receipt at the bottom of the Cover Sheet.
• Collect the receipt and keep it in a safe place.
19. End of Part 6
Please ensure you have completed
each of the tasks in section 6
online.
