Sketching Out Your Essay
You have probably had teachers telling you to use brain storming techniques since before you can remember. The problem is that you might not have ever known what they meant. And, if you did know, you might have still had problems knowing what you should be brain storming about.
Think about the term for a moment, though. If there is a “storm” going on in your brain, doesn’t that seem a little bit hectic? The answer is yes, it sounds like absolute chaos. Guess what? That is exactly what you need in order to set bran storming techniques into motion.
Organizing the Chaos
If you are feeling overwhelmed and you are feeling like there really is a storm going on in your, then what you need to do is pick up a pen and sit down in front of a sheet of paper. Take that pen and write down anything you are thinking – yes, this includes all the expletives that may be going through your thoughts, no one is going to see it. If you don’t think writing is going to work, then draw something with the pen. You can do whatever you need to do in order to sort out what is going on inside your head.
- Get the ideas out
- Circle the relevant ideas
- Throw the rest away!
Take a look at the three suggestions above. You may be asking yourself why you would throw any ideas out. The fact of the matter is that, unfortunately, not every idea you have is a good one. Also, even if the idea is brilliant, it may not be relevant to your topic. Therefore, there is not any reason to try to include these extra ideas in your essay.
Trying it Out
You will need to give yourself permission to relax and let your thoughts flow. You can’t judge your writing, scribbling, or doodling during the brain storming portion of your work. This is a part of the process in which you have total freedom to do whatever you want. You can get up to walk around, scream some lyrics to your favorite song, or bang on the table like a drum. Although, I suggest keeping your volume down if you are in a public place! The point is that bran storming techniques do not have to be the same every time and they are not the same for every person. Do what feels right if it gets you in the mood to start writing.