Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a way to generate ideas within a group setting. It is usually used in the
beginning stages of a project, where the possibilities for the project are not clearly understood or
defined. It provides a quick means for tapping the creativity of a limited number of people for a
large number of ideas. The brainstorming environment fosters an uninhibited, non-judgmental
explosion of ideas, concepts, policies, decisions, and strategies. In
brainstorming, all contributions are valid, and the key to a successful session is to share as many
ideas as possible without evaluating them.
Brainstorming sessions can be unstructured - that is, there may not be a moderator or facilitator.
Most sessions, however, are facilitated, structured discussions with guidelines to help the process
move along smoothly and allow a variety of perspectives and ideas to surface.

Graphic organizers

Graphic organizers enable the writer to organize material logically and to see relationships
between and among ideas. Effective use of graphic organizers can help the writer to present his
or her ideas in an effective and persuasive manner, resulting in a focused and coherent text.

Examples

WH E N T O US E GRAPH IC O R GANI Z E RS

Graphic organizers can be used during the pre-writing stage or at any other time during the
writing process. For example, a student who has written a draft lacking in coherence and
purposeful organization could benefit from using a graphic organizer during conferencing with
the teacher or peers. The perspective gained from graphically visualizing ideas should persuade
even the reluctant user of graphic organizers that some method of organization is necessary for
effective communication.
Teachers can provide printed or electronic templates for all students to use individually as
graphic organizers during the writing process. These templates can be used during a
demonstration lesson as well. The teacher-student conferencing process, including the results of
formative assessment, can help both teacher and student to determine which graphic organizer is
best for each particular student during a specific writing assignment. This instructional-learning
strategy also addresses the various learning styles that each student prefers. No matter the style
or method, graphic organizers serve a critical role during any writing process.

Topic and Sentence outlines

A topic outline provides a quick overview of topics to be included in an essay. You are probably
already familiar with this structure. Look at a syllabus from one of your courses. It is probably
the equivalent of a topic outline, with topics listed for each unit, and readings and assignments
under each. After each heading in a topic outline for an essay, a maximum of several words is
used to identify the topic or idea that will be discussed under the given heading.

In a sentence outline, the thesis and topic sentence of each supporting paragraph are fully written
out. The sentence outline forces part of the essay to be written out in sentences before the first
draft. Here are examples of sentence and topic outlines:

Sentence Outline
Topic Outline

There are multiple patterns you can use for outlines, each serving a unique purpose. Generally
speaking, the following outlines represent possible structures for organizing your essay:

 Compare - Contrast
 Chronological
 Sequential
 Advantages - Disadvantages / Pros vs. Cons
 Cause - Effect
 Problem - Solution
 Topic-specific