Brainstormin
Brainstormin
g
The Key to
Successful Essay Writing
Adapted from http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/brainstorming.html
Brainstormin
g
What is it?
A gathering of ideas from your brain onto paper.
The variety of ideas and the use of your
imagination assist you in producing a lot of material
with which to work.
Why do we need it?
Its the best way to collect your thoughts.
Its helpful for organization.
It ensures only quality ideas are used in the essay.
Brainstorming Technique
Number One
Freewriting
"This paper is supposed to be on the politics of tobacco production
What
is though
it?
but even
I went to all the lectures and read the book I can't
think ofabout
what tothe
say and
I'veThen
felt thiswrite,
way forwrite,
four minutes
Think
topic.
write.now and I
have 11 minutes left and I wonder if I'll keep thinking nothing during
Whatever
comes into your brain even if it doesnt
every minute but I'm not sure if it matters that I am babbling and I
have
to do with the topic. Example:
don't know what else to say about this topic and it is rainy today
and I never noticed the number of cracks in that wall before and
those cracks remind me of the walls in my grandfather's study and
he smoked and he farmed and I wonder why he didn't farm
tobacco..."
Brainstorming
Number One
Technique
Freewriting
Options:
Write for a specific time period
Write for a specific amount of paper
Brainstorming
Number One
Technique
Freewriting
???
???
When is it helpful?
When you have NO ideas about a topic
When you have TOO MANY ideas about a topic
Maybe I could say
this or maybe I
could say that
hmmm
Brainstorming Technique
Number Two
Making a Cube
What is it?
Imagine a cube. It has six sides. On each side, you
have a different task regarding the topic.
Brainstorming
Number Two
Technique
Making a Cube
Side One: Describe the topic.
Side Two: Compare the topic.
Side Three: Associate the topic.
Side Four: Analyze the topic.
Side Five: Apply the topic.
Side Six: Argue for or against the topic.
Associate
Compare
Describe
Analyze
Argue
Apply
Brainstorming
Technique Number Three
Clustering
What is it?
When you write down words or concepts
associated with the topic any ideas that come
into your mind
Brainstorming
Number Three
Technique
Global Warming
Clustering
Draw a bubble.
And write the topic above it.
Brainstorm!
rainforests disappearing
extinction
dangerous
emissions
dying animals
toxic world wide
Cars/SUVs
landscape changes
factories
no icebergs
expensive to fix? hurricanes
Reversible?
Now look for words that connect with each
other. Circle the words and connect them
with lines.
Brainstorming
Number Four
Technique
Listing or Bulleting
What is it?
Create a list of terms/ideas/concepts about the topic.
Create multiple lists depending on the purpose.
Global Warming
Belief/Disbelief
Toxic fumes
Scientists disagree
SUVs/Cars
Average American
Extinction
China/USA
Belief/Disbelief
Normal occurrence
or abnormal event?
Kyoto Agreement
Brainstorming
Technique Number Five
Venn Diagram
Capital
Cities
County seat
What is it?
Became
Paris in 400
A.D.
Eiffel
Tower
Anglophone
Draw two circles that connect, like this:
francophone
List two topics above the circles.
Brainstorm about the topics what do they have in
common and what is unique about each one.
Founded in
1839
Brainstorming
Number Five
Technique
Venn Diagram
When is it used?
When you are writing a comparison or contrast essay.
Capital
Cities
County seat
Became Paris in
400 A.D.
Eiffel Tower
anglophone
francophone
Founded in 1839
Brainstorming
Technique Number Six
Tree Diagram
What is it?
This diagram has a central idea to which you add
branches that focus on details.
Brainstorming Technique
Number Six
Tree Diagram
When do you use it?
This type of diagram is helpful in classification
essays.
Media
Visual
Print
Newspaper
magazine
Audio
booklet
television
cd
mp3
cassette
webpage
movie
Brainstorming
Technique Number Seven
Act like a Journalist
What is it?
Using the question words in English to explore the
topic.
Who?
Why?
When?
Where?
What?
How?
Brainstorming
Number Seven
Technique
Act like a Journalist
When is it useful?
Use this technique when you want to write a
narrative.
Why?
Who?
When?
Where?
What?
How?
Brainstorming
Technique Number Eight
T-Diagram
What is it?
Using a T shape, list a category that you want to
compare or contrast about a specific topic or topics.
Do this for a variety of categories.
Paris, France and Paris Texas
location
Europe
North America
Northern France
Northern Texas
Brainstorming
Number Eight
Technique
T-Diagram
When is it useful?
This technique helps when you are writing a contrast
or comparison essay.
Paris, France and Paris Texas
location
Europe
North America
Northern France
Northern Texas
Brainstorming
Technique Number Nine
Spoke Diagram
What is it?
Write the topic in a circle. Then think of about causes
and effects. Write these around the circle like spokes
on a wheel.
too many people
cars/suvs
not recycling
chopping down trees
Global Warming
Crazy weather
loss of polar ice caps
dying animals
Brainstorming
Number Nine
Technique
Spoke Diagram
When is it useful?
Use this technique when you want to explore cause
and effect.
too many people
cars/suvs
not recycling
chopping down trees
Global Warming
Crazy weather
loss of polar ice caps
dying animals
Brainstormin
g
In our class, you will need to show evidence
of the brainstorming technique that you
used to begin the essay process.
Its part of your grade because its
important!
Remember to ask for help or clarification if you need
it.
