About This Video
Getting started on any writing assignment, from a surprise essay prompt to a research paper you've chosen yourself, can be the hardest part. Even if you know the topic, figuring out how to approach it, what information to include, and how to organize it can feel like a brick wall. Some writers stare at a blank page (or screen) hoping for inspiration to strike. Others dump everything they can think of about the topic onto paper in a free-for-all called freewriting. Then there are the planners who meticulously outline their ideas before even starting to write. Research can be a good first step too, either to learn more about a chosen topic or to find one that sparks your interest. And hey, with all this new technology, some folks even chat with AI bots to brainstorm ideas! The truth is, there's no magic formula. Experienced writers use a mix of these techniques, knowing that what works for one person in one situation might not work for someone else. Learning when to use each approach is a key skill in becoming a better writer. Finding a Topic for Writing and Planning to Write 1. For brainstorming ask the questions about the topic that you, and your reader, want the writing to answer. 2. Use clustering and branching to find ideas and the relationships among support ideas. 3. Write a thesis sentence that reveals your angle on the topic at the outset. 4. Select the most appropriate order of delivery for your topic.