Prewriting Strategies Professor Danielsen

Reading: Shitty First Drafts (Anne Lamott) In groups of 5, please discuss the following: What are Lamott’s views on first drafts? What does she call them? What are her views on second drafts? What does she call them? From what Lamott has to say, is writing a first draft more about the product or the process? Do you agree in regard to your own first drafts? Explain.

What do you do when you can’t think of something to write? Warm Up Question: On a piece of paper or in a notebook, take a few minutes to write a response to the following question: What do you do when you can’t think of something to write?

Prewriting: Step 1 of the Writing Process Why do we prewrite? To get out ideas (even if they are bad or good) To organize our ideas (sequentially or otherwise) To refine our ideas

Important Tips for Prewriting: In the prewriting phase, do not worry about: spelling or grammar making mistakes using sophisticated vocabulary having good or perfect ideas right away having the perfect outline

Generating Ideas and Text Freewriting Looping Listing Clustering Questioning Outlining Cubing Keeping a Journal

Strategies for Prewriting Freewriting Write as quickly as possible without stopping (this includes nonsense thoughts) Looping Write for 5-10 minutes on everything you know, then stop and write a summary sentence of that text. For the next loop, use the summary sentence as your thesis or focus. Listing Write a list of potential ideas

Strategies for Prewriting Clustering Write topic in the middle, branch out with supporting ideas. Questioning Who? What? Where? When? How? Why? Cubing Describe, Compare, Classify, Analyze, Apply, Argue.

Strategies for Prewriting Outlining Informal Outline: keywords, macro structure of essay Formal outline: Numbers, Letters, hierarchy of importance Keeping a Journal Carry around a notebook for any ideas that may inspire you, or write about your daily life.

ACTIVITY: Take 10 – 15 minutes and pick two techniques from the prewriting list and start working on ideas for the following prompt: Freewriting Looping Listing Clustering Questioning Outlining Cubing Keeping a Journal Prompt: If you won the Powerball Lottery, how would you spend the money and why?