Verb form 10 doc

Incubation is perhaps an unconventional term to describe the process of mulling over ideas without

actually writing anything down. It’s the back-burner thinking that often takes place even without your full

awareness. For example, you might have read an essay assignment and set it aside to complete later. While you

were out running errands, doing the dishes, or waiting for the train, you suddenly came up with ideas for your

essay because part of your brain had been thinking about this topic.

Unfortunately, on the AWA, you do not have the time to incubate. As soon as you get your prompt, you

will have to start brainstorming ideas.

Brainstorming refers to the process of coming up with ideas, such as support for an essay, solutions to

a problem, or gifts for a birthday. The key to a successful brainstorm is to be open to all ideas. At this impor￾tant stage, don’t censor yourself. Write down whatever comes to mind. The more freedom you give yourself

to think, the more ideas will come to you. The more ideas you get on paper, the more freedom you will have

to pick the best (strongest) support for your thesis.

Several brainstorming techniques can help you generate ideas and examples to support your thesis,

including freewriting, listing, and mapping.

Freewriting is a technique that is useful any time you are having trouble coming up with ideas and is

particularly helpful if you are having trouble getting started. This brainstorming technique is exactly what it

says: free writing. Write down whatever comes to mind about the question or topic. Don’t worry about gram￾mar or structure; write in your native language or your personal shorthand if you like. Just write. If you keep

your hands moving for even two or three minutes, you are bound to come up with some good ideas. Here’s

a freewriting example for the Analysis of an Argument essay from the pretest:

Location location location they say but that’s not the only thing that matters. I go out of my way

to a place if it has food I like (ex, Carmello’s). Maybe there are other factors keeping customers

away (food, cost, service, atmosphere, other competition) maybe they just need to be more aggres￾sive in getting customers to their door. Maybe too pricey for mediocre food, so moving won’t mat￾ter. Moving—expenses—especially for closing down during the move.

Listing is probably the most common brainstorming technique and particularly useful if you are a lin￾ear thinker. Simply list on a piece of paper (or on the computer screen) all of the ideas that come to mind in

relation to your topic. Here’s how the writer of the Analysis of an Argument essay used listing to brainstorm

ideas:

New location:

near hub convenience

near stores people eat after shopping

higher rent

maybe more competition

moving costs

–GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE WRITING–

233