Chapter 25: Prewriting

Writing can be viewed as a series of steps or stages, and the first step of this process is prewriting. Prewriting is the stage of the writing process during which you transfer your thoughts into more concrete ideas in ink on paper (or in type on a computer screen).

Benefits of Prewriting

Prewriting is a valuable first step in the writing process. It breaks through writer’s block, getting the ideas flowing and helping you find a starting point. As a result, it reduces the anxiety and frustration that you might have felt in the past as you began writing.

Prewriting is an important tool for writers because it has four uses:

1.     Prewriting can help you find a topic to write about. On those occasions when you can write your paper about a topic of your own choice, prewriting can help you think of one.

2.     Prewriting can help you narrow a topic or find some interesting aspect of it. If you are writing on an assigned topic, as is often the case in academic courses, you may need to narrow it down. Even a longer piece of writing, like a research paper, could not do justice to a subject as broad as the Civil War or abnormal psychology. You will need to find a more specific aspect on which to focus, and prewriting can help you narrow, or limit, your topic to one that is more manageable for the assignment. In addition, prewriting can help you discover an aspect of the topic that is interesting to you. When you write about a topic that interests you, you will be more enthusiastic about the paper. As a result, you will be more likely to write a better paper.

3.     Prewriting can help you remember or discover what you already know about a topic. You can prewrite to discover a topic, and you can also prewrite to find out what you already know about a topic. You probably have some knowledge or thoughts about most topics, and prewriting can help you unlock this information from where it is stored in your mind. At the same time, prewriting allows you to get a better understanding of what you do not know about a topic. Then you can determine what you will need to find out— through reading and research—before you begin to write.

4.     Prewriting can help you decide what you want to say about your topic. Once you have decided on a topic and explored what you know about it, you can use prewriting techniques to help you formulate the idea or opinion you want to express about that topic. In addition, you can use prewriting as a tool to help you begin to sort through your thoughts about the topic so that you can determine which of those thoughts you want to include in your paper.

Following is a brief description of some prewriting techniques:

Discussion

Have you ever noticed that after you talk about a subject with someone for the first time, you understand more clearly what you yourself think about that topic? Using discussion, the act of putting your ideas and feelings into language, helps make them clearer and helps you understand the ideas better. The next time you need to generate ideas for a paper, try starting an oral or written conversation (in person, via e-mail, or in an Internet chat room) with a fellow student, friend, relative, or coworker. Tell the other person what you know or what you think about the topic, and use the discussion as an opportunity to learn more.

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a prewriting strategy similar to list making. Writers start with a general category and list specific items that fall into the category. You can make a list on your own or in a group with your classmates. Start with a blank sheet of paper (or a blank computer document) and write your general topic across the top. Underneath your topic, make a list of more specific ideas. Think of your general topic as a broad category and the list items as things that fit in that category. Often you will find that one item can lead to the next, creating a flow of ideas that can help you narrow your focus to a more specific paper topic.

Idea Mapping or concept mapping

Idea mapping or concept mapping is a prewriting strategy in which writers cluster ideas on paper using circles, lines, and arrows. This technique is also known as clustering because ideas are broken down and clustered, or grouped together. Many writers like this method because the shapes show how the ideas relate or connect, and writers can find a focused topic from the connections mapped. Using idea mapping, you might discover interesting connections between topics that you had not thought of before.

To create an idea map, start with your general topic in a circle in the center of a blank sheet of paper. Then write specific ideas around it and use lines or arrows to connect them together. Add and cluster as many ideas as you can think of.

Freewriting

Freewriting is a strategy in which writers write freely about any topic for a set amount of time (usually five to ten minutes). During the time limit, you may jot down any thoughts that come to your mind. Try not to worry about grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Instead, write as quickly as you can without stopping. If you get stuck, just copy the same word or phrase over and over until you come up with a new thought. Quickly recording your thoughts on paper will help you discover what you have to say about a topic.

Watch this video to see some examples of prewriting techniques:

CC Licensed Content, Shared Previously

Content adapted from the open course titled “Open Now Developmental English” authored by Cengage Learning, licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Content adapted from an open course from Broward, licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license.

Video Content

“Pre-writing Technique – Cluster Map” by Kristine Chester