tailieunhanh - Write better essays in just 20 minutes a day part 5

But it is important to recognize that in order to do it well, you must commit yourself to a process. Writing a great essay doesn't happen in one sitting. (Even when you are being timed, as with the SAT, your goal is not to turn out a finished piece, but rather to show that you know how to begin one.) | LESSON Brainstorming Techniques The 5 W s and Mapping LESSON SUMMARY This lesson describes two more techniques for generating ideas for your essays asking reporters questions and mapping. People learn and process information in many different ways. Some of us learn best by seeing others by hearing and still others by doing. Some of us prefer a defined structure or framework while others think best when there are no constraints. For those who like structure the 5 W s who what where when why offer an easy framework for generating ideas. For visual learners and thinkers graphic organization tools like mapping work best. Asking Questions Asking who what where when and why is a formula that journalists detectives and researchers use to get a complete story. This technique is particularly useful when you re choosing an essay topic and when focusing a topic once you ve made a selection. There are two sets of questions for taking stock one suited for an impersonal or researchtype essay and the other geared toward a personal essay. Unlike some of the other brainstorming techniques you should ask questions deliberately with great thought given to each question. Do not rush or include every idea that comes to mind. Even if you are being timed take a moment to give the best answer you can for each question. The better focused your answers the more information you will have to use in your essay. 37 ------------ BRAINSTORMING TECHNIQUES THE 5 W S AND MAPPING -------------------- If you are writing a research paper or other type of nonpersonal writing and your topic is already selected or assigned concentrate on the standard W s who what where when and why. These questions will help you quickly develop a great deal of information about your subject. Not every question will apply to every essay and the prompts that follow each W are meant to be taken as suggestions. Be flexible and use the format as it best fits your topic. 1. Who Who is involved At what level Who is affected 2. .