1. Brainstorming techniques
The Writing Process
Brainstorming techniques

2. Types of Brainstorming
Listing
Free writing
Discussion
Mapping/Diagramming
Clustering
Outlining

3. Sample Essay Topic
Should students at 2-year colleges have to perform community service as part of a graduation requirement? Please develop an argument to support your opinion, and be prepared to supply a counter-argument.

4. Listing
Listing does exactly what it sounds like; a writer can list all the ideas or responses they have to a general topic.
Yes No
Play an active role in community
Don’t have the time
Opportunity for networking in a career field
Not what college is for
Looks good on resumes
Should be able to choose and not forced on.
Exposure to different people
Seems like a HS or MS type requirement
Work experience
Money’s too tight to give up work hours
Already do as part of job

5. Free Writing
Free writing is a stream of consciousness exercise. It’s useful to get the ideas flowing without thinking about organization or mechanics.
Should community college students have to do community service to graduate? Didn’t we have to do it for high school? What’s the point, anyway? I don’t pay to go to college just so I can do volunteer work for someone, and it’s not like I have the time for it between work and school and the kids. Hell, I need someone to volunteer for ME so I can get stuff done around the house  But I guess maybe it wouldn’t be bad if I could help in an office where I could make connections in my major field, like nurses or something. OH, I need to make that appointment for my son. I just don’t’ feel like I can handle anything else on top of all the homework and tests and work and everything else that I already have to do. It might be good for students without family or work obligations but I just don’t see how I could do it.

6. It’s okay to just talk
One of the most effective methods of brainstorming is to just talk it out. Sometimes, discussing a topic with fellow students, family members, or an instructor can help you gather ideas.

7. No community service requirement
Mapping/diagramming
Mapping/diagramming and clustering are very similar. Starting with a central idea, branches are added as new ideas, branch off. Related ideas are attached by branches. New ideas start a new branch.
Can’t afford it
No community service requirement
Can’t miss anymore work
Daycare
Already paying tuition
I don’t pay to volunteer
Kids have been sick
Mapping is difficult for me, because I often don’t write linearly. If your writer seems to be a more creative person, try clustering or freewriting if a discussion doesn’t start to generate ideas.

8. Clustering Yes, community service Graduation requirement
Rather than using the more linear format of mapping, clustering uses bubbles and lines to connect ideas based on a main topic or idea.
Make more money
Meet new/different people
Looks good on resume
Better chances of getting a job
Active role in community
Yes, community service
Graduation requirement
Work experience
Want to live/work here
networking

9. Outlining
Outlining might not be the most effective way to start brainstorming without doing something beforehand.
It may be more effective to outline once the ideas have been generated using another form of brainstorming. This can help more when a writer has an idea of what they want to say without knowing exactly how to organize her thoughts.
This may seem very formulaic; it is. It’s a good way to get started and think about the relationships between sentences in terms of organization.
Topic Sentence: A community service requirement could greatly benefit students at a 2-year college. Primary Support: It could provide students with valuable experience that would make them a more desirable employee. Secondary Support a (explain): Many employers want to hire workers that already have some experience. SSb(example): Volunteering at a retirement community could help a nursing student get a job more easily by showing he already has experience in the field. SSc(effect/result/analysis): Through the volunteer experience, students can also get valuable work experience that could make them a better candidate for a job in the future.

10. Activity Should the national drinking age be lowered to 18?
On your own, brainstorm some ideas about the topic presented here.
After a few minutes, get with a small group and discuss the ideas you came up as individuals, and keep notes of new ideas you came up with.
As a group, try to create an outline based on the ideas you developed.
Should the national drinking age be lowered to 18?