Pre-Writing: Brainstorming, Organizing and Outlining Ideas
“A basic structural design underlies every kind of writing.” - Strunk and White, Elements of Style
Just as a builder would not try to construct a building without an architectural plan, a writer should not attempt an
academic paper without prewriting first. As the name implies, “pre”-writing is what comes initially, and its purpose
is to inform (“build”) the content and guide the direction (“structure”) of the actual writing yet to come. Prewriting
consists of 3 basic steps: brainstorming, organizing and outlining ideas. If the prewriting phase is overlooked or
done in haste, the paper will lack organization, focus and support and, like our hypothetical building, fall apart due
to structural weakness.
What is Brainstorming
“Brainstorming” is a strategy that allows your mind to free-associate spontaneous and random ideas. Instead of
struggling to consciously think of what to put down on that empty page or blank computer screen (every writer’s
nightmare!), it frees up the sub-conscious to draw upon a vast sea of accumulated prior knowledge.
Pre-Writing/Brainstorming Techniques
With Free-writing, one writes (by hand) non-stop for a set period of time, say 3 minutes, then reviews what has
been written to locate the main idea, often just a key word or phrase. With Looping, the writer uses the identified
main idea as a starting point and continues to free-write for another 3 minutes, then repeats the process for an
additional 3 minutes, if needed. Both free-writing and looping work fine with native speakers, but ESL writers tend
to get sidetracked by grammar/structure issues, stopping and re-starting the writing process, which negates the
intended purpose of the exercise. Instead, non-native writers may prefer to use Clustering/Mind Mapping and/or
Listing as brainstorming techniques.
Clustering or Mind Mapping (see reverse, fig 1)
In clustering, ideas are organized visually. Start with your topic or prompt in a circle at the center of the page. Add
a circle for every idea, clustering related topics like branches extending outward from a tree. Don’t be afraid to
include “bad” ideas or topics you probably won’t use later. Follow ideas to their end, ask
who/what/where/when/why at dead ends, and draw lines to show new connections.
Listing (see reverse, fig 2)
With listing, ideas are quickly written down in a vertical column(s) as they occur, without regard to hierarchy,
organization or connectivity. This is true “stream of consciousness” and organizing/grouping comes later. Having
some kind of limit is helpful, either time (say, 3-5 minutes) or length (a full sheet of paper).
Organizing and Outlining (see reverse, fig 3)
Once you’re done brainstorming, look for connections between related ideas (discarding the inconsequential or offtopic) and arrange them in indented outline format (eg, I, A, 1, a, i), the most general ideas closer to the left margin,
specific ideas toward the right. At this outline stage you should have: 1) a “working” thesis statement (it may
change later); 2) topic sentences for each main section; 3) a clear organizational structure appropriate to your
intended audience and stated purpose for writing.
Examples
On the back of this sheet, you’ll find three examples of a prewriting. They are all in response to a single
assignment: write a research paper on an influential American artist. The writer was inspired by the Museum’s
collection of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work, so he started with that artist as his topic. Figure 1 shows the start of a
cluster activity (not a complete map); note how more interesting lines of thought continue beyond the image and
less relevant ones cut short. Figure 2 shows a full listing activity; the letters were added afterwards to mark related
ideas. Figure 3 shows an outline that includes full topic sentences and uses the best ideas from listing and
clustering. Notice how the writer used multiple methods to explore many ideas before forming a thesis and
arranging his points.
Wooden
Table
Stained
Glass
Frank Lloyd
Wright
Other
Work??
Americana
Prairie
House
Mid-West
Plains
Discovery
RanchStyle
Organic/Earthy
Pioneers
Adventure
Fig. 2: Listing
Independence
stained glass window
wooden table
furniture
ceramics
Americana a,b,c,d
prairie house a
organic a/b
“earth-hugging” a/b
Midwest plains a
wide open spaces a,b
straight lines b
geometric planes b
designer a
popular c
mainstream c
influences a
ranch house ***
post-World War II a,c
affluence c
home ownership c
independence d
frugality c/d
hard work d
starter home c
land availability b
break with past d
freedom d
non-traditional b/d
Home
Ownership
Open
Floor Plan
1950s style b
cheap land b/c
open floor pattern b
small bedrooms b
reproducible design b
attached garage b
car culture c/d
suburbs c
social mobility c
physical mobility d
The Old West a/d
cowboys a/d
pioneers a
discovery a,d
adventure a,d
newness d
exploration a/d
Westward migration a
settling new territory a
American dream d
immigrants a/c
retro d
style popular again c/ d
boomers downsizing c
restlessness d
nostalgia d
Colorado boyhood ranch home
consumer culture c/d
Fig. 3: Outlining
Fig. 1: Clustering
I. (Working) Thesis: Frank Lloyd Wright’s classic prairie house design reflects American basic
values and ideals, epitomized in the popularity of ranch-style houses after World War II.
Japanese
Influence
A. Development of ranch-style houses was influenced by historically relevant factors.
1. Frank Lloyd Wright
a. designer
b. prairie house
i. Americana
ii. organic, “earth hugging”
2. Westward migration
a. wide open Mid-Western plains
b. pioneers
c. settling new territory
i. discovery, adventure
ii. risk
3. Old West nostalgia
a. cowboy mystique
b. independence, self- reliance
B. Particular physical aspects identify ranch-style house design.
1. functional=decorative
a. reproducible (“cookie cutter”) design
b. open floor plan
c. flexible interior usage
d. one floor
e. built–in appliances
f. attached garage
2. cheap available land
a. suburban tract developments
C. Ranch houses also represent movement into a particular socio-economic status.
1. home ownership
a. affordable “starter” home
2. social mobility
a. post-World War II affluence
b. growing middle class
c. consumerism
3. popular mainstream style
a. look-alike tract houses
D. The psychological and emotional factors involved in owning one’s home are key to achieving
the “American Dream.”
1. basic American values/ideals
a. independence; freedom
i. car culture=physical mobility
ii. restlessness
b. hard work leads to material wealth
i. defines self-worth
c. sense of community
i. cooperation vs competition
d. break with past
i. new, non-traditional
2. “retro” fashion
a. practical-- popular with downsizing “Boomers”
i. kids moved out, need less space
ii. no stairs for creaky knees!
b. nostalgia for simpler time
i. “recycling” and redesigning older styles and fashions
RISD Writing Center/Peter Carney/Meredith Barrett, April 2013.