INVENTIONINVENTION

How to Engage in Helpful How to Engage in Helpful Prewriting Prewriting

*All information in this Powerpoint *All information in this Powerpoint is from the excellent book, is from the excellent book, Patterns for College WritingPatterns for College Writing

(unless otherwise stated)(unless otherwise stated)

Invention (or, prewriting)Invention (or, prewriting)

Invention is an important part of the Invention is an important part of the writing process. At this stage, you writing process. At this stage, you discover what interests you about discover what interests you about your subject and what ideas you will your subject and what ideas you will develop in your essay. develop in your essay.

When you are given a writing When you are given a writing assignment, you may be tempted to assignment, you may be tempted to plunge into a first draft immediately; plunge into a first draft immediately; however, you should consider the however, you should consider the assignment, explore your subject, assignment, explore your subject, and decide what you want to say and decide what you want to say about it.about it.

FREEWRITINGFREEWRITING

You can use freewriting at any stage You can use freewriting at any stage of the writing process--for example, of the writing process--for example, to generate supporting information to generate supporting information or to find a thesis. However, or to find a thesis. However, freewriting is a particularly useful freewriting is a particularly useful way to narrow a general subject or way to narrow a general subject or assignment. When you freewrite, assignment. When you freewrite, you write for a fixed period of time, you write for a fixed period of time, not worrying about grammar or not worrying about grammar or spelling. The goal is to get your spelling. The goal is to get your ideas on paper so you can react to ideas on paper so you can react to them and shape them.them and shape them.

Brainstorming Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a very productive Brainstorming is a very productive way of discovering ideas about your way of discovering ideas about your topic. You can brainstorm in a group, topic. You can brainstorm in a group, exchanging ideas with several exchanging ideas with several students in your composition class or students in your composition class or brainstorm quickly on your own in brainstorm quickly on your own in written form.written form.

Your notes might include phrases, Your notes might include phrases, statements, drawings, etc.statements, drawings, etc.

Journal WritingJournal Writing

Journal writing can be a useful source Journal writing can be a useful source of ideas at any stage of the writing of ideas at any stage of the writing process. Many writers routinely keep process. Many writers routinely keep a journal, jotting down experiences a journal, jotting down experiences or exploring ideas they may want to or exploring ideas they may want to use when they write. use when they write.

Clustering Clustering

Clustering is a way of visually arranging Clustering is a way of visually arranging your ideas so that you can tell at a your ideas so that you can tell at a glance where ideas belong and whether glance where ideas belong and whether or not you need to generate more or not you need to generate more information. Although you can use information. Although you can use clustering at any stage of the writing clustering at any stage of the writing process, it is especially useful for seeing process, it is especially useful for seeing how your ideas fit together and how how your ideas fit together and how much information you have on various much information you have on various different topics. different topics.

Informal OutlineInformal Outline

A less visual way of clustering, you A less visual way of clustering, you organize a list of your major points organize a list of your major points presented in a tentative order. presented in a tentative order.

Sometimes, however, an informal Sometimes, however, an informal outline will include supporting details outline will include supporting details or suggest a pattern of development.or suggest a pattern of development.