1. Brainstorming Techniques

2. 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)

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

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

11. 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

12. Go to:
Outlining and Organizing
5 Paragraph Essays