1. Prewriting: Gathering Ideas
Introduction
Exploring what you know
Researching your topic
Evaluating your ideas
Writing your thesis statement
Implying a thesis
Reviewing your ideas
Your Turn 1: Create research questions
Your Turn 2: Compose a thesis statement

2. Introduction How do you learn more about a topic that interests you?
Do you consult a crystal ball?
Because you must explore ideas and gather information, learning about a topic is more like being a detective than a fortune teller.

3. Introduction
Knowing what you’re going to write about is just the starting point for writing.
Topic: The evolution of surfboards
Once you have a topic in mind, your next step is to gather information about that topic.

4. Exploring what you know
First, determine what you already know about your topic. Write down all the ideas and information that you have.
Topic: evolution of surfboards
People have been surfing on boards for hundreds of years in Hawaii.
Early surfboards were solid wood and weighed as much as 150 pounds.
Surfboard shapes have changed over the years.

5. Exploring what you know
What information or ideas are missing? Next, write down specific questions that show what you still need to know about your topic.
Topic: evolution of surfboards
How have surfboard shapes changed?
Why do surfboard shapes vary?
How has the evolution of the surfboard affected competitive surfing?

6. Researching your topic
Do some research next to find answers to your questions. Research is a part of nearly all forms of writing, not just informative reports. For example,
if you are writing . . .
you might research . . .
a short story
the place and time in which your story is set
a persuasive essay
the beliefs of those who might disagree with you
a personal narrative
background information for the event you’re relating
a literary response
information about the author of the work

7. Researching your topic
Ways to research your topic include
reading books, magazines, and newspaper articles
talking with others about your topic
using a search engine to find relevant Web sites
viewing documentary videos
creating a survey to learn what others think about your topic

8. Evaluating your ideas
Now, as you research, you must evaluate the ideas and information that you find. Ask the following questions about each idea or piece of information to determine if it is usable:
How does this information relate to my topic?
Is this information too specific or too broad?
Will this information interest my readers?

9. Evaluating your ideas
Surfboard shapes changed in part as the materials used for the core evolved from hard wood to balsa wood to foam.
How does this relate to my topic?
It addresses how surfboards evolved.
Is the information too specific or too broad? no
Will the information be interesting to my readers?
yes

10. Writing your thesis statement
You should be able to determine your thesis—the main idea of your topic—from the ideas and information you gather. Look for patterns in or relationships between the facts you’ve gathered.
Topic: evolution of surfboards
Surfboard shapes changed in part as the materials used for the core evolved from hard wood to balsa wood to foam.
Through most of the 1960s, surfboards were about 10 feet long.
Surfers began to experiment with shorter boards and discovered they are more maneuverable than longboards.
how boards evolved

11. Writing your thesis statement
Often, you will give readers a thesis statement, which directly states your topic and what you want to say about it. To create a thesis statement, you might use the following equation:
Topic:
The evolution of surfboards
+ Main idea about topic:
As materials changed and more people began to surf, surfers experimented with the shapes of surfboards.
As surfboard makers experimented with different materials and sought better performance from their boards, surfboard shapes evolved.
Thesis statement:

12. Writing your thesis statement Implying a thesis
In some types of writing—especially short stories and personal or biographical narratives—it is effective to use the details you provide to imply, or hint at, the main idea.
As her little dinghy bobbed up and down on the ocean, a strange feeling came over Robin. She couldn’t see any other boats, yet she felt as though she were being watched. The breeze that blew past felt like someone whispering in her ear.
Implied main idea: Robin is not the only one on the ocean.

13. Reviewing your ideas
After deciding on your thesis, review the ideas and information you have gathered. Do you have enough strong ideas to support your thesis? If not, go back and gather more information.

14. Your Turn 1: Create research questions
Complete the following steps working with a topic that you know well or one that your teacher suggests.
Fold a sheet of paper lengthwise. Write your topic at the top. Label the left side “What I know” and the right side “What I want to know.”
On the left side of your paper, write down all the things you already know about the topic.
Examine the ideas you’ve written down and think about what you still need to know. On the right side of your paper, write at least four questions that show what you need to know about your topic.

15. Your Turn 2: Compose a thesis statement
Using the topic and the ideas you wrote down for Your Turn 1, compose a thesis statement for your chosen topic. You might use the equation:
Topic
+ Main Idea About Topic
Thesis statement

16. The End