THE WRITING PROCESS: Planning your Writing
There are times when our brains feel vacant from ideas, lacking inspiration, full of concern about the topic we want to address, or simply too tired to shape a logical outline. Then it is time to take advantage of your natural thinking processes by gathering your brain's energies into a "storm".
PLANNING YOUR WRITING
1. Brainstorming
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Brainstorming rouses the thinking process, whips some air into our quietened seas of reflection and gets the gentle wind of inspiration moving again. Brainstorming can help you select a theme, acquire a method to a theme, or deepen your understanding of the theme's potential. Whether you are starting with too much or too little information, brainstorming can help to put a new writing task in motion or revive a project that hasn't reached completion.
Brainstorm ideas on the topic. Jot down spontaneous ideas, using keywords and phrases.
- This will enable you to plan your work and formulate:
Plot lines
Flowcharts
Mind Maps
Brainstorm Ideas
2. Planning
The Hamburger method
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Introduction/Orientation
Idea
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Body/Development
Planning
The body paragraph should develop your topic, prove your point and have a pattern ( Chronological order, comparison/contrast or a combination of both).
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Conclusion/Resolution
Final Thoughts
The following "dont's" when writing the conclusion/resolution:
- Don't restate main points
- Don't introduce new information
- Don't begin with "In conclusion", "In summary", or anything of the like
a) Plot Lines
Plot lines enable you to plan your work in a vertical or horizontal fashion. They may make use of graphics
Planning your writing nearly always helps you to think more clearly about the topic you want to write about. This will save time later. Usually planning effectively before you write helps you to write effectively, which means you will have less editing to do later on. Ask yourself, while planning, "What do I want to say in response to the question?" rather than: "Which quotes or pieces of information do I want to include?" Writing with a well-defined question in mind will put you in a position a writer to have something to say about what you have read.
b) Flow Chart
A flow chart is a diagram showing the different stages of a complex activity.
- it enables you to structure your work correctly, follow a chronological order and include all necessary elements.
- it encourages lateral thinking
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c) Mind Map
A Mind Map is made up of headings, words, diagrams or pictures. It is a wonderful planning tool and aids you in the following ways:
- It allows you to see if you have enough ideas.
If not, change your topic at this early stage.
It focusses your thoughts and ideas.
It orders your thoughts logically and sequentially.
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To follow: Paragraphs
Source:
https://www.uq.edu.au/student-services/learning/planning-your-writing
EBH Joubert: English Grammar: In Writing
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