1. WRITING PROCESS A POSSIBLE APPROACH

2. GETTING STARTED PULL APART THE PROMPT USING TECHNIQUES OF: IDENTIFYING KEY TERMS AND ALTERNATIVE WORDS AND CONCEPTS PARAPHRASING THE TOPIC IN YOUR OWN WORDS – (think “How can I restate this so I can explore the identity and belonging concepts it suggests.)

3. A MIND MAPPING APPROACH SOLITARY ALONE PEACEFUL INDEPENDENT OSTRACISED PEOPLE WHO CHOSE TO BE ALONE – MONKS AND RECLUSES OPT OUT FROM TIME TO TIME = ARTISTS, WRITERS, EXPLORERS MARGINALISED PEOPLE – PEOPLE REJECTED BY SOCIETY DISABILITEIS SUCH AS BLINDNESS, DEAFNESS, PARALYSIS MENTAL ILLNESS PRISONERS ASYLUM SEEKERS COMMUNES CULTS COMMUNITIES

4. SAMPLE WHAT DO MICE NEED TO SURVIVE?

5. SELECTION AND REJECTION WHAT DO THESE IDEAS SUGGEST ? Raise some critical questions or ideas. How humans relate to Mice What do Mice need to survive? How are Mice portrayed in fiction and media? Go back to your mind map and select the ideas you will use

6. A MIND MAPPING APPROACH SOLITARY ALONE PEACEFUL INDEPENDENT OSTRACISED PEOPLE WHO CHOSE TO BE ALONE – MONKS AND RECLUSES OPT OUT FROM TIME TO TIME = ARTISTS, WRITERS, EXPLORERS MARGINALISED PEOPLE – PEOPLE REJECTED BY SOCIETY DISABILITEIS SUCH AS BLINDNESS, DEAFNESS, PARALYSIS MENTAL ILLNESS PRISONERS ASYLUM SEEKERS COMMUNES CULTS COMMUNITIES

7. MAKING DECISIONS WHAT DO I HAVE TO EXPLORE (THE TOPIC) WHAT DO I WANT TO SAY – FRAME THIS AS A KEY QUESTION YOU ARE GOING TO EXPLORE. WHAT SHOULD AND SHOULDN’T BE INCLUDED (POST-IT-NOTES ARE GOOD FOR THIS.)

8. EXPOSITORY/PERSUASIVE MAJOR POINT 1 MAJOR POINT 2 MAJOR POINT 3 Sub-point 1 Sub-point 2 Sub-point 3 Sub-point 1 Sub-point 2 Sub-point 3 Sub-point 1 Sub-point 2 Sub-point 3 THE BIG QUESTION EVIDENCE

9. IMAGINATIVE REMEMBER What is the substantial thing, or BIG IDEA you are exploring? What do I want to say?

10. CONSIDER You can’t write a novel in 1200 words – make sure every word counts Think about what your main character wants more than anything in the whole world in relation to this topic. Simple equation for fiction: The main character wants something + the forces that are working against the main character to stop them from attaining their desire = CONFLICT which forms the basis of the narrative. Your role as a writer is to EXPLORE and resolve that conflict

11. STRUCTURE FREYTAG MODEL

12. WRITERS SHOW NOT TELL FOCUS ON THE BIG IDEA AND WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY CONSTANTLY MAKE DECISIONS, SELECT AND DESELECT

13. The last bits of thinking WHO WILL BE MY AUDIENCE? (ultimately it is your teachers and examiners) WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO EXPRESS MY IDEAS FOR MY AUDIENCE? – (what words will I choose, tone, point of view, imagery, symbolism)