Prewriting: Gathering Ideas

1. Prewriting: Gathering Ideas Introduction Exploring what you know Researching your topic Evaluating your ideas Writing your thesis statement Implying a thesis Reviewing your ideas

2. Introduction Detective work requires exploring ideas and gathering information.

3. Introduction Like a detective, you have to explore your writing topic and gather information before you can begin to write. Topic: owl adaptations (physical traits that help owls survive in their environment)

4. Exploring what you know First, determine what you already know about your topic. Write down all the ideas and information that you have on your topic. • Topic: owl adaptations • Most owls are nocturnal. • Owls hunt small animals. • Owls have excellent hearing.

5. Exploring what you know What information or ideas are missing? Next, write down specific questions that show what you still need to know about your topic. • Topic: owl adaptations • How do owls hear so well? • What kinds of animals do owls eat? • How do owls catch and eat their prey? • Are owls noisy or quiet when they fly?

6. Researching your topic Next,do some researchto find answers to your questions. Research is a part of nearly all forms of writing, not just informative reports. For example, You might research If you are writing a short story the place and time in which your story is set a persuasive essay the beliefs of those who disagree with you a personal narrative details of the event you’re relating a literary response information about the author of the work

7. Researching your topic Ways to research your topic include reading books, magazines, and newspaper articles talking with others about your topic typing your topic into a search engine viewing documentary videos creating a survey to see how others feel about your topic

8. Evaluating your ideas As you research, you must evaluate the ideas and information that you find to make sure they are usable. Ask the following questions about each idea or piece of information: How does this information relate to my topic? Is this information too specific or too broad? Will this information interest my readers?

9. Evaluating your ideas The shape of an owl’s face and its uneven ear openings help it collect sounds and determine their direction. • How does this relate to my topic? All are owl adaptations. • Is the information too specific or too broad? no • Will the information be interesting to my readers? yes

10. Writing your thesis statement You should be able to determine your thesis—the main idea of your topic—from the ideas and information you gather. Look for patterns in or relationships between the facts you’ve gathered. • Topic: owl adaptations • The shape of an owl’s face and its uneven ear openings help it collect sounds and determine their direction. • An owl can fly silently because it has tiny ruffles on the edges of its feathers. • An owl’s talons help it catch and kill prey such as mice, rabbits, other small mammals, and insects. owls’ special physical traits

11. Writing your thesis statement Often, you will give readers a thesis statement, which directly states your topic and what you want to say about it. To create a thesis statement, use the following equation: Topic: Owl adaptations Owls have specializedphysical traits that enable them to hunt and to survive in almost any environment. + Main idea about topic: Adaptations such as specialized ear openings and specially structured feathers enable owls both to hunt with ease and to exist in almost any ecosystem. Thesis statement:

12. Writing your thesis statementImplying a thesis In some types of writing—especially short stories and personal or biographical narratives—it is effective to use the details you provide to imply, or hint at, the main idea. As he traveled deeper into the forest, a strange feeling came over Sam. He felt as if he were being watched. John kept walking ahead as if everything were normal, but Sam felt a gentle breeze blow past him, like an eerie whisper in his ear. Implied main idea: Sam and John are not the only ones in the forest.

13. Reviewing your ideas After deciding on your thesis, review the ideas and information you have already gathered. Do you have enough strong ideas to support your thesis? If not, go back and gather more information.

14. The End