Prewriting

1.  Pick a subject:         Sometimes this is already done for you by your instructor; sometimes you must do this yourself.  If you are allowed to choose your own topic, make sure it is something you are interested in as you will be spending much time on it.

2.  Narrow the subject down:  Think about it—you can’t write if you can’t think.  How long is your paper going to be?  How broad a subject can you discuss in this space?

3.  Form a tentative thesis:  What do you want to say about your topic?  This idea should change and become more refined with each subsequent draft.  However, even a preliminary thesis should be clear, focused, and arguable.

            Test your thesis:

Is it focused?  It must say one specific thing, make one specific point.  How many pages will it take to prove your thesis: one, five, ten, twenty?

Is it clear?  Your thesis must be a statement—avoid questions.  The best rule is to use a declarative sentence.  Do different parts of your thesis appear to contradict each other?  Also, do you say what you mean to say?  Are your words clear as your thoughts?

Is it arguable?  A statement of fact does not make a good thesis.  Say something important about an issue that has more than one point of view.  The following is an example of a good arguable thesis:  “Though television shows often glamorize women, television commercials typically present them as housewives in distress so they can be rescued by the sponsor’s product.”

4.  Determine your line of defense:  Plan how you will support your thesis.  You probably do not need a formal outline unless your instructor requires one, but you do need a sense of direction.  Arrange your supporting points in some kind of tentative order.

5.  Begin writing:  With your thesis at the top of page one, write several paragraphs in defense of the thesis, keeping in mind the order you chose in Step 4.  Rearrange, refine, and improve your defense where it is weak.  Resist the temptation to write either an introduction or a conclusion at this time.

NOTHING IS SACRED YET!  DO NOT LET YOUR TENTATIVE THESIS INHIBIT YOUR IDEAS!  LET YOUR IDEAS FORM YOUR THESIS.

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Prewriting

The goal of prewriting is the invention of a plan that will become a piece of the writing.  Prewriting can be done in three steps: finding/identifying a subject, focusing on a topic and discovering a plan to develop your topic.

1.         Find or Identify Your Paper’s Subject

Examine the assignment and make sure that the paper’s subject and your professor’s expectations are understandable. If anything about the assignment is unclear, ask the instructor about it. After you have a grasp on what your project should be about, the next step is to research. Explore media sources (periodicals, books, TV shows, radio programs, etc.), review your notes from the class, examine past reading assignments, talk with other students, etc. While doing this, you should record your findings. Some methods of doing this include making lists, creating a brainstorming web, keeping a journal or writing down quotations and anecdotes on note cards. 

2.         Focus on a Topic

Once you have acquired a lot of information, it is time to narrow the subject down.  Think about how long your paper is going to be and how broad a subject you will be able to discuss in that amount of space. IF you are not sure which topic to use as your focus, try some of these methods:

 

Ø      Get the views/opinions of others

Ø      Interview an expert

Ø      Explore relevant personal reactions and experiences

Ø      Go for the party invitation method/journalism formula (who-what-when-where-why-how)

3.         Discover a Plan to Develop Your Topic

Once you have your topic, form a tentative thesis by asking yourself, “What do I want to say about my topic? Do I have enough evidence to support my claim?”  After answering these questions, it is time to organize the evidence you will use to support your thesis. Before beginning to write think about some of the technical aspects of your paper:

 

Ø      From what point of view am I going to write? Who is my audience?  How do I reach this particular audience?

Ø      Can I incorporate comparison/contrast, cause/effect, or formal definitions into my paper? Where?

Ø      What are some specific examples/details that are important to mention in my paper?