PREWRITING

PREWRITING

All good writers’ first think and plan before they start writing. This is important because it helps
you find and organize good ideas. There are many useful prewriting strategies, but the most
frequently used ones are brainstorming and clustering.

2.1 Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a process of producing a lot of information

within a short time by capturing all of the thoughts, ideas,
and fragments in your head about the topic given and writing
them down on paper. Consider the topic & the brainstorming
below as an example.

THE REASONS FOR LEARNING ENGLISH

 develop your communication skills

 learn other cultures
 live and work in a multinational
company or business environment
 impress people around you
 confidence
 have a lot of job opportunities
 study or live abroad
 listen to popular songs
 watch popular movies
 learn different food
 meet new people
 develop friendships
 learn new information about science
 have a high standard of life
 study at a good university
 sell products to other countries
 have a high salary
2.2 Clustering

Clustering is a technique that helps people map out

their thinking with the help of circles and lines to
show branches of their ideas as subtopics. They
simply connect related ideas and group them into
categories to organize themselves. Consider the
topic & the brainstorming above and the clustering
of those ideas below.

FINANCIAL REASONS EDUCATION

* Work in a * Study abroad

multinational company * Study at a good
* Sell products to other university
countries * Language of science
* Have a high salary

REASONS
FOR LEARNING
ENGLISH

SOCIAL LIFE CULTURE

* Impress people around * Learn different food

you * Meet different people
* Make new friends * Read books, watch
* Have high level of self movies, listen to songs of
confidence different cultures
 CLUSTERING EXERCISE – 1: Look at the example of a cluster diagram on the topic of
television commercials. Complete the missing parts with the supporting ideas and
supporting details on the list.

Continuing - Animations
See
See new
new
Character
Some product
product - See new products
are
funny - Kinds of commercials

Animations
Animations
Kinds
Kinds of
of - Sexist and racist
commercials

Good - Good points

points - Stop shows or movies
TV
TV COMMERCIALS
COMMERCIALS
Demonstration

Sexist and What I hate

about TV
racist

Boring and Stop shows

annoying or movies

CLUSTERING EXERCISE – 2: Look at the example of a cluster diagram about reasons to

cry. Complete the missing parts with the supporting ideas and supporting details on the
list.

Death of a
family member
or friend
Divorce
Beating

- Injury
Physical Sad
pain events - Weddings
Injury
- Divorce
- Winning in a sports
Reasons to
Cry competition
- Sad events

Winning in a Happiness
sports Weddings
competition
 CLUSTERING EXERCISE – 3: Look at the example of a cluster diagram on the topic of
choosing a path after high school. Complete the missing parts with the supporting ideas
and supporting details on the list.

Preparation Earning
for career money sooner

- Preparation for career

College? Work - Travel

Make Gain “real - Earning money sooner
new world”
friends experience - Learn new cultures
Choosing a path - Work
after high school

Travel

Learn new
New perspectives cultures

CLUSTERING EXERCISE – 4: COORDINATING SUPPORTING IDEAS

Read the following words or phrases. First, determine which word or phrase is the most
general. Second, decide which words or phrases are equal to each other. Finally, decide
which words or phrases are unrelated.

1. a. sketching objects
b. painting a picture ___B_____ is the most general word or phrase.
c. mixing colors __A C D______ are equal to each other.
d. adding details ___E_____ is unrelated.
e. hanging the picture

2. a. eat nutritious food

b. maintain good health __B______ is the most general word or phrase.
c. exercise __A-C-E_____ are equal to each other.
d. watch the news _D_______ is unrelated.
 e. reduce stress
3. a. hitting balls
b. celebrating after the game
c. practicing double plays
d. practicing baseball
e. throwing balls from the outfield
4. a. spending free time
b. reading or watching TV
c. expensive movie tickets
d. going shopping
e. visiting friends
5. a. good for the environment
b. economical
c. uncomfortable
d. popularity of small cars
e. low usage of gas
CLUSTERING EXERCISE – 5: Write the topics for the related supporting ideas:
1. How to make a good impression at a job interview
country
3. Qualities of a good teacher
1. Topic: _______3__________
- Has knowledge of subject
- Cares about students
- Can explain information clearly
3. Topic: ____4_______________
___D_____ is the most general word or phrase.
__A-C-E______ are equal to each other.
___B_____ is unrelated.
____A____ is the most general word or phrase.
B-D-E_______ are equal to each other.
___C_____ is unrelated.
___A_____ is the most general word or phrase.
_B-C-E_______ are equal to each other.
____D____ is unrelated.
2. Difficulties of living in a foreign
4. How to do well in school
2. Topic: _____2____________
- Learning a new language
- Using different money
- Feeling homesick
4. Topic: _______1______________
- Attend all classes - Come prepared
- Take good notes - Be polite

- Study for exams in advance - Dress appropriately

CLUSTERING EXERCISE – 6: Look at the following topics and details in the

brainstorming part. Write the related details under the supporting ideas.

• Not feeling lonely • Get exercise

• Take part in social interactions • Keep owner safe
• Walk them • Keep burglar out
• Low blood pressure • Unconditional love

Supporting Ideas:

1. Physical Health 2. Psychological Health 3. Sense of security

_Get Exercise _Unconditional love _Keep owner safe

_Walk them _Not feeling lonely _Keep burglar out

_Low blood pressure _Take part in social interactions

Topic: Being divorced cause people many problems.

- No one to talk to - Feel uncomfortable around others

- Lonely
- Have to make all decisions
concerning children
-Less money for clothes
Supporting Ideas:
- Less time to talk to children
- Responsible for discipline
- Less extra money

1. Money problems 2. Personal problems 3. Responsibilities for kids

(Financial) (Emotional) (Parental)

_Less extra money _No one to talk to _Less time to talk to children

_Less money for clothes _Lonely _Responsible for discipline

_Feel uncomfortable around other _Have to make all decisions concerning childen
 CLUSTERING EXERCISE – 7: Add more ideas given below and group those ideas into three
categories. Please do not use the ideas that don’t fit into any categories or are unnecessary.

ADVANTAGES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

 buses, _taxis, trains, _ships_____

 get to work, _travel in the city_, visit friends, _go to school ,
 make new friends
 reduces stress
 _Fast__
 _Listen to music___
 read a book
 driving is expensive, but _public transportations
are cheap
 _Saving money________
 no pay for fuel
 saves time
 air pollution due to may be preffered___,
 land pollution _ is prevented_
 Reduced traffic

ENVIRONMENTAL Personal Benefit

-Reduce Stress
-Air Pollution
ADVANTAGES OF - Listen to music
-Land pollution
PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION - Read a book
-Reduced traffic

Financial

- Cheap

- No pay for fuel

-Saving money
 CLUSTERING EXERCISE – 8: Brainstorm about the topic given below and group your ideas
into three categories. Please do not use the ideas that don’t fit into any categories or are
unnecessary.

BENEFITS OF SLEEPING WELL FOR

STUDENTS

 _Feel good
 _Think healthy
 _Be happy
 _Be energetic
 _Have a productive day
 _Grow fast
 _Healthy life
 _Study
 _Do sports
 _Eat regularly
 _Healthy skin
 _Early sleep

Physical Health Psychological Health

- Grow fast - Be happy

- Feel good
- Eat regularly Benefits of
sleeping - Think healthy
-Early sleep

Social Life

- Do sports

-Have a productive day

-Be energetic