In my classes this week, we’re discussing pre-writing techniques. This process helps the writer compose a better essay. Although I’ve found that some of my students prefer to just start writing as they go, using pre-writing techniques helps craft your paper according to the assignment guidelines. There are several things you’ll want to do when planning an essay: choose a topic; brainstorm; outline; and draft.
Now, the essay prompt will dictate what your topic should be. For the sake of an example, my students are writing personal narratives this week based off some sort of “first.” Let’s imagine the student selects their first time learning to drive. They will start brainstorming things, such as the car they drove, the person who was teaching them, the weather conditions, and where they practiced driving. There are a variety of ways to brainstorm your topic, so do whatever makes you feel most comfortable.
Putting everything together requires structure and a logical flow. During a free-writing session, you might skip around from one detail to the next as you recall the memory of first learning how to drive. Obviously, that process will need to be broken down into an outline to help you plot your essay’s path. Once you’ve gotten your introduction, main talking points, and conclusion fleshed out, you can start writing your first draft. The drafting process isn’t meant to be perfect — it’s meant to get your ideas out onto paper (or screen). We’ll talk about the revision process later on.
So go out there and practice crafting the best paper, whether it’s an essay for a class or a cover letter for your dream job!
