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Comsats Wah. Pre-writing Techniques. Pre-writing Techniques. Free-writing Visualization Listing Outlining Brainstorming and Mind Mapping Journalistic Questions. 1. FREE WRITING. FREE WRITING.
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Comsats Wah Pre-writing Techniques
Pre-writing Techniques • Free-writing • Visualization • Listing • Outlining • Brainstorming and Mind Mapping • Journalistic Questions
FREE WRITING • Free writing is the act of writing unstructured, stream-of-consciousness thoughts without pausing or making corrections. • It’s an excellent way to think of ideas, explore topics, or practice writing more often.
Free writing Example • so i need to think of something to write but I cant think of anything really so here I am free writing for a couple minutes while watching TV. I should probably turn it off since it’s so distracting except I can’t find the remote and uh I should probably think about what i’mgonna write instead of writing about nothing. hmmm maybe I’ll just like write about free writing..
DENTISTS • I hate going to the dentist. I'm always afraid that they're going to hurt me, and I'm not very good at pain, at tolerating pain, I mean. I remember the first time when I was a kid, going to the dentists, it seemed I never went to the dentist when I was a kid until I had a toothache, that's my parents fault, isn't it, I guess. They should have taken better care of my teeth when I was little, and then I wouldn't have so much grief now with my teeth. But back then I would go to the dentists and he would have this godawful drill that would make this awful noise and it seemed like it always hurt. I remember there was this sign in his office that said PAINLESS DENTIST, UPSTAIRS, but there was no upstairs in his building. Some joke, huh? I can't think of anything to say, and I can't think of anything more to say. Oh, I wonder how come anyone in his right might mind would ever want to become a dentist, putting his fingers into other people's mouths all day, all that spit and blood and not there's the fear of getting AIDS from your clients that they have to wear those rubber gloves and I hate the feel of those things in my mouth, too,
Previous passage and the sound of that thing that draws the spit out of your mouth. I wonder why my folks didn't take me to the dentist BEFORE i had trouble. Probably because when they were growing up it was bad times and they didn't have any money for things like the dentist and it was just taken for granted that you were going to get cavieties and lose a lot of teeth before you were even an adult. I can't think of anything more to say. I can't think of anything more to say. all I know is that when I have kids, they're going to the dentist every six months whether they want to or not and maybe by then they'll have invented some way to absolutely prevent cavities and maybe there won't even be any dentists or if there are it'll just be to clean your teeth and make sure they're straight and pearly white and we won't worry about cavities and stuff like that that causes pain anymore. DENTISTS, MY ATTITUDE HAS CHANGED AS I GOT OLDER.
Variations of free writing 1. Grammar and punctuation Some prefer to write in complete sentences, while others prefer not to use any punctuation at all. 2. Topic You can either write about anything that comes to mind or stick to a focused topic 3. Time limit You can either time yourself (usually for a short amount of time, like several minutes) or just write until you feel you’re done.
While Free writing • Don’t stop writing! • Don’t read over your Free writing until after you’re done. • Ignore any mistakes you make. • If you usually use the computer, trying Free writing by hand to see if it works better for you
Free Writing Samples • Creative Writing: When I Was A KidWhen I was a kid we left the dirty streets of Brooklyn, New York for thequieter suburban streets of Connecticut. We moved into a large house in Norwalk,Connecticut. Norwalk is the sort of town that dreams of being a big city butwill always be just another small port on the Connecticut coastline. Like outof some horror story, the south side of town offers plenty of frighteningimages: ghettos, drug dealers, prostitutes, graffiti, and even young urbanprofessionals. The south end was a popular place to work, but when the dayended, these young men and woman got into their BMWs, Porsches, and other toysand drove to safe ground. Most found their way to surrounding towns: Westport,Wilton, New Canaan, and others. Other people, like my parents, crossed townthrough East Norwalk to our home in the northern end of town. Sometimes I wouldhear my father boast to far off relatives that we lived in a nice residentialneighborhood (otherwise known as "the good area") In most horror stories, asthe hero approaches some haunted house (or some other terror) you can shout,"Don't go in there! Stay away!" People moving into Norwalk have no such luck;they move into the charming town without a clue of it's underlying sickness anddisagreeable citizens.One of my first discoveries was the river that passed through the middle of town.I was only a kid, maybe ten, when I started fishing by the edge of the river.It wasn't easy findin..
Free Writing Samples • Creative Writing: A Day at the Park It was a day I was subconsciously waiting my whole life for, but Ididn't realize it until it was happening. The day was August 8, 1996, just 25days before my son's first birthday. The Texas Rangers, my favorite baseballteam, were in town to play the K.C. Royals. I had always dreamed of one day,taking my son to his first Rangers game. A father taking his son to a baseballgame is just the American thing to do, and there I was, taking my son "out tothe ball game"; Americas favorite pastime. I hadn't been to see a Ranger game in years and had been wanting to, forquite a while. But like many other young married couples, we didn't really seemto have the time, nor the money. We decided to splurge and buy generaladmission tickets. Well it was about three hours before the game, and one hourbefore I got through with work. All of a sudden my phone rings, and it was mymother-in-law "wondering" if I wanted a couple of free view box tickets and aparking pass, for that nights Ranger game. I couldn't have been more excited,much less believe my luck. After I got off work , and picked up the tickets, I raced home to getmy wife and son ready to go. Over the next half hour, I almost regrettedhaving to bring my son, what with the hassle of getting the diaper bag packed ,the traffic, and fighting the crowds while pushing a stroller. It...
Free Writing Samples • Creative Writing: Letter to PrincipalDear Mr.Johnson, This Letter is on the issue of closed campus, in my opinion this shouldnot even be an issue. Haslett High Scholl students should be able to go outduring lunch, we have a right to choose what we pay for and we have the right toseek a comfortable environment. I have very strong reasons to back up my opinion. If I want to not wait in line for at least five to eight minutes forfood I must skip the trip to my locker and lag around a heavy bag which has myfirst, second, third and fourth hour books in it. This brings up anotherserious problem in Haslett schools; room! In four corners it's practically amosh pit after every hour, this is a whole separate problem which needsimmediate attention. Once I finally get my lunch I have a second much hardertask to tackle; finding a seat. The Cafeteria is way over capacity and simplycan't handle the amount of people that is must. After I have everything I canstart eating, by this time I have wasted away twenty minutes of my preciouslunch period. Mr.Johnson, this is just not a suitable lunch arrangement. I must mention of second problem with lunchtime, this is even morepressing than the first. Lunch Prices have been growing drastically and with noreason at all, this could mean the school is pressed for money so you look forthe simple solution and make us, the consumers, pay more. I ...
Free Writing Samples • The Pedestrian - Creative WritingThis story is set in the future and relates to people acting in an abnormal and obscured way. It challenges your mind to why these people act and are so different during the night. When during the day it seems so normal and a busy day. It is as though you can predict these people's day-to-day routines. What seems to posse them to act so different towards the night? Leonard is walking in a deserted place. It is awfully quiet he can only hear his own footsteps. It is a misty evening. There spears to be no-one else waking during the night. He approaches to be very different he doesn't conform. He makes out to be an outsider doesn't necessarily fit in. Leonard feels lonely his not married and wants company. He used to be a writer an imaginative man. So from here you understand why he misses the company and feels lonely. He seems to be wondering alone the empty streets, when everyone else is so focused and tuned in to their viewing screens. Apparently he is the only one that seems to ...
Free Writing Samples • Fiction Creative WritingThat blasted husband of mine why didn't he just fall? Why couldn't his bony white fingers fail him just this once, cease their scrabbling on that cold fresh grass , plummet to his death rocks like demons teeth, battered by the waves a ghostly grey in the gloom of the early morning. Why couldn't he of left me, stopped his endless torment on me, his cold heart growing rich on my hatred, and fear. He drags me to those places often. Cliffs high as the sky clouds catching on their jagged points. It's like he feasts on my fear some sick twisted fantasy, watching my eyes narrow in worry his eyes bright with delight and manic excitement. It was the third time I had tried to kill him, I would pay dearly for my moment of justice, there was a cold sense of satisfaction in the screams that shrieked from his crooked mouth plagued with wrinkles. It made my heard swell with pleasure. His high pitched dampened and consumed by the soft chalk rocks. Unfortunately he had a selfish way of surviving without...
Free Writing Samples • Creative Writing: About Space Long ago, beings from all the local worlds, met up on Javan 3, where a conference was being held that would unite the universe. The Confederate Alliance of Worlds was formed from this and the local planets which were formed in it, helped to create a powerful strength in the local area, for years, each of the planets would protect each other, sending support when the other planets were under attack from the rare pirate, or were in trouble. It was as near harmony as you could get. There was not a single problem...until an event happened that shook the foundations of the galaxy itself. 4 Years ago, without warning, a star went supernova near the solar system Teracór, which was inhabited by the most powerful peace-enforcing creatures in the galaxy, the Aldevans. In the stars dying explosion, it eradicated and wiped out the solar system, taking out the strongest race and influence in the galaxy. Over time, the people ...
Free Writing Samples • Creative Writing: My Grandfather My Grandfather, although he moved around a lot when he was a kid, grewup fairly well. He has lived in California, Texas, Wisconsin and many others.He traveled to many places because of his first career. Grandpa was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He lived there for the firstthree months of his life. He then moved to Texas where he lived in the suburbsof Dallas. He then moved to California and moved back to Texas to live with hisgrandparents for times when his mother couldn't have him stay with her. Hismother married a man named John and they moved to New Mexico. There he lived ona dude ranch his step-father was building, and he got to ride horses a lot. Hischores there were to strip trees to help build buildings, and he took care ofthe horses. He later did chores around the house. He moved out of New Mexicoafter John got killed by lightning. They lived in the poor part of the city.The thing he remembers most about his mother is that she was a free spirit. Hisdad left when he was three because he couldn't take care of any one, not evenhimself. He recalled that John told lots of tall stories; something thatgrandpa does often. His first school was in California and it was a two room school house.He had to walk home and there were water snakes in the gutters. One time whenhe got home, his favorite toy, a refrigerator handle, was missing. Then...
Exercise Free Writing By Topic Write about anything that comes to your mind or stick to a focused topic By Time 10 Minutes
2. Visualization • After you have decided on the experience you will write about, close your eyes, and try to remember the sensory details of the experience: • Sight: What did you see during this experience? did the the people and environment look like? What things were in the room? People? What did they look like? • Sound: What sounds did you hear? Traffic sounds? birds? music? What were people saying? Was it silent or noisy? • Smell: What smells did you smell? Smoke? Cooking smells/ Perfume? Crayons? Sweat? • Taste: What did your mouth taste like? Mint gum? dry with fear? • Touch: What did you feel? Stomach ache? Head ache? Cold or hot? • After you are done imagining all of the senses involved open your eyes, and do some listing or freewriting about the details that you remember.
Example of Visualization • Tiana decides that she will write about a time when her mother was in the hospital. She closes her eyes and tries to remember the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings of the experience. After ten minutes she opens her eyes and lists all of her memories of the details... • taste of hot cocoa made with water from vending machinesmell of chemicals -- alcohol, medicine, taste of hot cocoa made with water from vending machinesmell of chemicals -- alcohol, medicine, sound of beeping machines, nurses talking softly in the hallwaymuted sounds of phone ringing, my mother's raspy breatheverything was pale green cloth, metal and white. Only spot of color seemed to be red button on ventilatormy mom's face was tiredher eyelids closed • sound of beeping machines, nurses talking softly in the hallwaymuted sounds of phone ringing, my mother's raspy breatheverything was pale green cloth, metal and white. Only spot of color seemed to be red button on ventilatormy mom's face was tiredher eyelids closed • She then uses these notes to begin writing her descriptive paragraph.
3. Listing • It is another way to jot down all your ideas very quickly, without worrying about spelling or punctuation. • Example of ListingJarrett has chosen to write a paper about his grandmother. After thinking about her for a few minutes, Jarrett simply begins to list all the aspects of his grandmother that come to mind... • white hair in a buntwinkling eyesbakes wonderful raisin19 grandchildrenretired nursemarried late for the timeworked with children dying of flu epidemicwas one of few nurses on the floorrecieved commendation for her workmet my grandfather, doctor at hospitalretired lateworked as a nurse again after she had children • After listing, Jarrett looks at the list and decides to focus his paper on her work as as a nurse during the 1920's.
4. Outlining • It is a good way to organize your ideas. It's best to use an outline after you've done some freewriting, listing or clustering. It's also good to use an outline after you've written the first draft to help you organize your paragraphs and sentences.
Example of Outlining • Nicole has done a lot of freewriting and taken many notes for her child development paper, and now she plans to organize these materials. After looking through her notes, she decides on a preliminary thesis for her paper and writes it out as part of the introduction. She then numbers the paragraphs that will go into the paper and writes a quick note about the main point on which each paragraph will focus... • Intro and Thesis: Although it encourages moral behavior, "The Smurfs" reinforces stereotypical gender roles. • Body of paper: • Background, basic description of the show • Moral behavior – the smurfs model prosocial friendship behavior • Moral behavior – importance of community transition: BUT PROBLEMS WITH GENDER • Description of feminine characteristics – Smurfette as stereotyp • Smurfette restricted to home-based, nurturing role in the show • Masculine characteristics in other Smurfs • Male Smurfs go on adventures • How smurfs reflect gender stereotypes in commercials and society • Consequences: Possible messages this show sends to kids • Conclusion pulling it together
Why Use a Mind-map? • It clearly defines the central idea, by positioning it in the centre of the page. • It allows you to indicate clearly the relative importance of each idea. • It allows you to add in new information without messy scratching out or squeezing in. • It allows you to figure out the links among the key ideas more easily.
How to do a Map • Use unlined paper • Use paper with no previous writing on it. • Connect all words or phrases or lists with lines, to the centre or to other "branches." • Go quickly, without pausing • Write down everything you can think of without judging or editing • You may want to use color-coding, to group sections of the Map.
Some Graphic Organizational Patterns • Branches.An idea may branch many times to include both closely and distantly related ideas. • Arrows.You may want to use arrows to join ideas from different branches. • Groupings.If a number of branches contain related ideas, you may want to draw a circle around the whole area. • Lists. You may list your ideas. • Explanatory/Exploratory notes.You may want to write a few sentences in the Map itself, to explain, question, or comment on some aspect of your Map
Stage 1: brainstorming = free thinking —> producing ideas • Write your topic or area of study in the centre of a blank page. • Use colours, pictures, words and symbols to record any other ideas, topics, authors, theories or anything else associated with the topic. You can put these anywhere on the page. At this point anything and everything is OK.
Major thought relationships 1. Exemplification: 'An illustration of this is the...' 'Characteristics such as...' 'For instance,...' 2. Contrast: 'As opposed to,...' 'This differs from X in that...' 'Whereas,...'
Major thought relationships 3. Comparison: 'Like X, Y is...' 'X resembles Y in that...' 'In the same way,...' 4. Enumeration: 'There are several kinds of...' 'These can be divided into three types,...'
Major thought relationships 5. Chronology: 'The earliest...' 'Thereafter,...' 'By the time,...' 6. Causality: 'As a consequence,...' 'This resulted in...' 'Hence,...'
Major thought relationships 7. Process: 'Step 1 involves... Step 2...' 'Initially, ... then ... finally ...' 8. Spatial Order: 'The base is positioned next to ...' 'X moves outwards to the ...'
