Thinking to writing
- 1. Thinking to Writing: How to Generate Ideas1 Step 1: Begin with significance (pickingouta theme) A) Identifythe themes/conceptsthatyouaddressedinclassoraddressedinthe promptforyour final assignmentof the year B) Picka passage from the textthat comesto mind,anypassage thatstands out(rememberit standsout fora reason). C) Nowtry to finda theme/conceptfrom onthat may be relevanttothat passage English: 9th grade:you will likelyfocusona conceptyou’ve discussedinclassthatyou’re most comfortable with 10th grade: themesyouhave identifiedanddiscussedinclass 11th grade: close readingelement D) Write the theme at the top of the page Step 2: Write a drivingquestion A) Derive adrivingquestionfromthe promptoryour assignment. B) If you have a specificprompt,re-writethatpromptasa question butfocusingonthe theme/conceptyouidentified. Step 3: Write possible answersto your question A) Your possible answerscanturninto potential claims B) Make sure your answersare inferences—thatisopinionsabout detail/theme/character/structure,etc. C) Make a longlist,mindmap,or do a focusedfree write.DONOTworryabout whatis goodor bad yet. The backspace keyis yourenemy (like the idea-crushingpanda). 1 Or: A Crash Course onWhy Your Brain IsNot a Barren Field
- 2. Step 4: Gatheringthe evidence It’snot time to delete anyideasyet.Let’sfirstgathersome evidence fromthatpassage andsee what youcome upwith. A) For eachbulletpointorinference thatyoumade,findevidenceinthe passage B) Anybulletpointsorinferencesforwhichyoucan’tfind evidence stayinthe brainstorming, meaningidea-Pandacanhave themfordinnerif he wants C) Bestevidence are the bulletpointsyouwill use tothenbuildaplanforyouressay/writing assignment.Thisdependsonthe length: a. Freshmen:1paragraph shouldhave 1 to 2 bulletpointswhichbecome yoursupporting pointsforthe topic sentence b. Sophomores:around5 paragraphs,youwant 3-4 bulletpointswithsupportingevidence that will formthe basisforyourbody paragraphs. c. Juniors:multiple paragraphs:4-6bulletpointswiththe bestevidence So how do I get to a cohesive answerto my drivingquestion(i.e.the thesis)? Findthe connectionbetweenyourbulletpointsandevidence.Theyshouldbe relatedtothe theme. That will become yourthesis. What ifit’s an in-classassignment? Practice thisprocessat home.The goal isto internalizeit(rememberplasticityandhow ourbrain learns throughpractice?Yup, that’sit).