If your instructor has given you a topic to write about, write everything you know about that topic for, say, ten straight minutes. If you get stuck, just type or write nonsense. It doesn't matter, as long as you keep writing and don't allow yourself to stop. Keep going past the set time, if you want to. The important thing is to get your thoughts on paper so you can see what you're thinking.
TRY THESE!
Structured free writing: write a single word or short phrase at the top of the paper; write without stopping for a given time period in response to that word or phrase.
Listing: write a single word or short phrase at the top of your paper; list every word or short phrase that comes to mind. For example, say you have to write a narrative essay on a favorite person. Instead of starting with formal paragraphs, try making a list of everything you can think about related to this person and why you like her.
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Aunt Sandy never forgets a birthday always calls me by my nickname always has a clean house and cool books she's a good cook she likes dessert as much as we do she's an art lover she loves to laugh and travel |
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You can then expand on each of these points by writing a little note to yourself and flesh these ideas out. What is it that you like about each of these? What kind of food does she cook? Is there a memorable meal? What kind of books does she have and what makes her laugh? The more detail you can bring up, the more you will be able to provide to make your essay interesting.
Mapping: write a single word or short phrase in the middle of your paper; write related words or phrases in branches coming out in the center; cluster words or phrases in groups according to common themes. The "supporting detail" can then easily become separate paragraphs.
Chaining: write down a question; respond to the question; ask another question about your response; generate a new response; keep this process going for a given amount of time (usually 10-15 minutes).
Structured questioning: write a concept or theme at the top of your page; respond to each of the journalistic questions: who, where, when, what, why, and how (or any other standard set of questions).
Looping: write a short word or phrase at the top of your paper; write without stopping for 10-15 minutes in response to the word or phrase but write the word or phrase again after every 5 or 6 lines.
General questioning: write a word or short phrase at the top of your paper; generate as many questions as you can that, if answered, would provide you with a sound understanding of that word or phrase.
TRY THIS!
Write a paragraph about a topic you want to research. Start with "I am researching _____ because _____..." Write out your reasons for picking the topic and what you know about it. Don't stop to read, research, or revise until you are done. Here is an example of a "freewriting" exercise:
I want to research gun control because I think people have too many guns in the U.S. The first amendment is misinterpreted and I think a lot of people confuse the right to bear arms with national freedom and American identity. The U.S. has more guns than any other country and more crime from guns. There is a lot of gun violence from people with mental illnesses and there should be laws that make it harder for people to get guns if they have mental problems. There are a lot of school shootings where a person has mental illness and if they didn't have access to guns, it would be harder for them to do that.
When you are done, identify sub-topics or issues within that topic. For example, within the topic of gun control, there are several sub-topics like national identity and the First Amendment, mental illness and gun ownership, and school shootings. Even though they are all related to gun control, a research paper could just focus on one of those sub-topics. Review what you have written and pick one main point or idea that you'd written about. Do another "freewriting" exercise to narrow down the focus even further.
When writing a research paper, freewriting helps you identify what you already know about the topic before beginning research. After learning about a topic, it is easy to forget what information came from an outside source or where that information came from. Reviewing your freewriting notes can help you identify specific pieces of information you would need. After reviewing your writing, look for generalizations, broad statements, assumptions, or opinions in your writing. Turn these into "Who, What, Where, How, and Why?" questions as a part of your research strategy.
I want to research gun control because I think people have too many guns in the U.S. [How many guns are in the U.S. compared to other countries?] The first amendment is misinterpreted [Is it the first or second amendment?] and I think a lot of people confuse the right to bear arms with national freedom and American identity. The U.S. has more guns than any other country and more crime from guns.[How much U.S. crime involves guns? Other countries?] There is a lot of gun violence from people with mental illnesses and there should be laws that make it harder for people to get guns if they have mental problems [What laws about mental illness and gun ownership are currently in place? Are they the same for every state?]. There are a lot of school shootings where a person has mental illness [How many school shootings involved a person with mental illness?] and if they didn't have access to guns, it would be harder for them to do that.
