Pre-writing:
Keeping a Journal
by Amy Addison
Often the hardest part of developing a thesis and writing
an effective paper is simply getting started. To help yourself formulate and
organize ideas you may want to keep a writing journal. This journal may be
as formal or informal as you wish; it is for you and should be written as
if you are addressing yourself or a very close friend. The idea is to get
things down on paper as you think of them. When making an entry, write from
beginning to end before rereading or editing. Even if you are writing for
a class, your journal usually won't be graded for grammar, spelling, or punctuation;
there will be plenty of time for that later in the writing process! The following
are a few exercises you might want to try in your journal:
- Free writing - Simply write whatever comes to mind. There
is no need to write in complete sentences, although you may.
Try to write continuously for at least ten minutes. The purpose
is to get you writing. Writing is like riding a bike; the more
you write, the easier it will be and the better you will become!
- Free writing, Looping, Focused Free writing - This process
begins with at least ten minutes of free writing. Then reread
what you have written and underline key phrases and ideas. Then
begin to free write again, this time narrowing in on one of the
ideas you underlined in your initial writing. This will help
you develop your ideas.
- Branching - To branch, put your main idea at the top of the
page. Underneath it, list your subordinate ideas. Then, branching
off to the right, list subordinate points to these ideas. For
example, you are preparing to write a paper about the use of
word processors:
For other pre-writing exercises, see the Writer's Web handouts that follow
concerning brainstorming, cubing, clustering,
and looping.
Writer's
Web Topics