Brainstorming Techniques

What is “Brainstorming?” Writing down any idea that comes into your head when you think about your topic (words, phrases, symbols, etc.) Before you can brainstorm, you have to do some PRE-WRITING (figure out TPAG: Topic, Purpose, Audience, Genre)

Methods A few of them: Unstructured list, Structured list, Four squares, Web, Timeline, Venn diagram Discussed here are two frequently-used types: webbing and Venn diagrams

Webbing Webbing is a way to see what you know about a topic. Webbing can be used for just about any type of writing.

Mr. T is the best teacher ever Webbing (1) Start with a bubble in the center of the page, then write your thesis statement in the bubble Mr. T is the best teacher ever

Mr. T is the best teacher ever Webbing (2) Add supporting evidence or information around the edges in connected bubbles. Awesome musician Funny Mr. T is the best teacher ever Gives easy work Cool room

Webbing (3) Go back around and explain why your evidence makes your thesis true. Makes up songs about school; easy to remember Awesome musician Makes class interesting Want to pay attention Funny Mr. T is the best teacher ever Weird voices help me remember Want to go to class Can focus on material Gives easy work Cool room High avg. Lots of information

Venn Diagram A Venn diagram is used to help visualize the similarities and differences between two subjects. Venn diagrams are very useful when brainstorming a compare/contrast essay

Venn Diagramm (1) Start with the two topics you’re comparing in overlapping circles. JFK Bill Clinton

Venn Diagramm (2) Write similarities in the overlapping space. JFK President Popular Good hair Popular wife (?) JFK Bill Clinton

Venn Diagramm (3) Write differences in the non-overlapping space. Started space program Almost impeached President Popular Good hair Popular wife Bill Clinton JFK Assassinated Still alive

Go to: Outlining and Organizing 5 Paragraph Essays