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Writers' Workshop
Starting to Write
Step 1: Picking a Topic --
finding something worth writing about.
Good topics don't find you; you have to find them -- and
it ain't easy. But-hey, do you want to read about something dumb,
or that other people have written about 10,000 time before? Well, neither
does anyone else. So, take the steps below seriously; you'll find something
worth writing about. (Remember, you're going to be living with this topics
for the next five weeks. You'd better like it.)
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Strategies for finding a good topic:
- Brainstorming (You could use the Online Discussion format.)
- Walking around
- Scanning
- Free writing
- Doing what your parents tell you
Pick one (or two) -- and write down
your ideas.
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Step 2: PreWriting -- shaping a subject for writing
- Answer these questions:
- What do you know?
- How do you know it?
- What questions do you have?
- What's most important about this subject? Why?
- What do people tend to overlook about this subject?
- How do you plan to organize your article?
- Figure out what you need to do next.
- What information do you need?
- Where are you going to get it?
- What pictures or graphics would help? Why?
Hey, maybe you should write a "predraft" right now!
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Step 3: Getting Information -- collecting the facts, opinions, and ideas you'll need to write an effective article.
- How to get it:
- Talking with people
- Searching the Web (Check the WebWrite page for help.)
- Using the (omigod!) Library
(Psssst!! If you're looking for a good library, here's one you should try:
The New Vista Virtual Library.)
- How to sort through it
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"Writers' Workshop: Getting Started" created by Stevan Kalmon,
<kalmon@bvsd.k12.co.us>
New Vista High School,
Last modified: May 9, 1998