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

2. Introduction Detective work requires exploring ideas and gathering information.

3. Introduction Like a detective, you have to explore your writing topic and gather information before you can begin to write. Topic: owl adaptations (physical traits that help owls survive in their environment)

4. Exploring what you know First, determine what you already know about your topic. Write down all the ideas and information that you have on your topic. Topic: owl adaptations Most owls are nocturnal. Owls hunt small animals. Owls have excellent hearing.

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: owl adaptations How do owls hear so well? What kinds of animals do owls eat? How do owls catch and eat their prey? Are owls noisy or quiet when they fly?

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

7. Test Tip: Gathering ideas for tests You won’t be able to research the topic you are given for a writing test. Instead, you must rely on what you already know. To get your best ideas into your response, focus on what you know, not on what you don’t jot down notes in response to the prompt always take time to plan your answer

8. Ways to research your topic include Researching your topic creating a survey to see how others feel about your topic viewing documentary videos typing your topic into a search engine talking with others about your topic reading books, magazines, and newspaper articles

9. Evaluating your ideas As you research, you must evaluate the ideas and information that you find to make sure they are usable. Ask the following questions about each idea or piece of information: Will this information interest my readers? Is this information too specific or too broad? How does this information relate to my topic?

10. How does this relate to my topic? Evaluating your ideas The shape of an owl’s face and its uneven ear openings help it collect sounds and determine their direction. Will the information be interesting to my readers? Is the information too specific or too broad? yes no All are owl adaptations.

11. 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: owl adaptations The shape of an owl’s face and its uneven ear openings help it collect sounds and determine their direction. An owl can fly silently because it has tiny ruffles on the edges of its feathers. An owl’s talons help it catch and kill prey such as mice, rabbits, other small mammals, and insects. owls’ special physical traits

12. Adaptations such as specialized ear openings and specially structured feathers enable owls both to hunt with ease and to exist in almost any ecosystem. 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, use the following equation: + Main idea about topic: Topic: Thesis statement: Owl adaptations Owls have specialized physical traits that enable them to hunt and to survive in almost any environment.

13. 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. Implied main idea: Sam and John are not the only ones in the forest. As he traveled deeper into the forest, a strange feeling came over Sam. He felt as if he were being watched. John kept walking ahead as if everything were normal, but Sam felt a gentle breeze blow past him, like an eerie whisper in his ear.

14. Writing Tip: Staying focused Whether you state your thesis directly or just imply it, you should write down your main idea before you go on to do further research or to draft your writing. This written statement will help you stay focused on your main idea as you go forward—which will help keep your writing on track.

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

16. The End