Invention

Goal:  to gather ideas about the writing task at hand
Time: 40 minutes

Please include the following three activities in the text of your message.

Brainstorming

Make a quick list of as many ideas you can think of regarding your topic. Include questions, facts, and opinions. When you have written for about 8 minutes, go back through your list and star the ideas that seem most helpful.

Freewriting

Write for 8 minutes non-stop about your topic. If your mind draws a blank, write that your mind is blank, but do not stop writing for any reason. When you are done writing, re-read what you have written and highlight the most important ideas.

Analyzing

Take 10 minutes to answer these questions about the rhetorical situation to get a better idea of your topic.

What is the occasion for writing?
What are you trying to accomplish by writing?
What do you already know about the topic and what perspectives would you like to focus on?
What does your audience already know about the topic?
What information can you add to the topic by writing about it?