Directed and Undirected Free-writing: An Activity in Brainstorming

1. Directed and Undirected Free-writing: An Activity in Brainstorming

2. Overview • Students will learn the process of free-writing as a method of brainstorming for the purpose of writing an essay. • Instruction will include both undirected and directed methods.

3. Goal • To expand the student’s pre-writing skills by introducing them to an alternative method of brainstorming.

4. Objectives • SWBAT choose several main ideas from their writings for use as essay topics. • SWBAT perform a timed free-writing exercise. • SWBAT identify the difference between directed and undirected free-writing and how and when to apply them to the prewriting process.

5. Curricular Connections (NCTE Standards) • Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes.

6. Curricular Connections (NCTE Standards) cont. • Students use spoken, written, and visual language to accomplish their own purposes (e.g., for learning, enjoyment, persuasion, and the exchange of information).

7. Pre-Assessment • Students will complete a brief exercise to determine their knowledge of pre-writing skills. It will consist of a five-question quiz for a participation grade.

8. Engage • Students will complete a brief exercise to determine their knowledge of pre-writing skills. It will consist of a five-question quiz for a participation grade.

9. Explore • Students will be read two samples of free-writing aloud, one undirected and one directed. Then the samples will be placed on the overhead and students will identify the unique qualities of the writing, (punctuation, flow, structure, etc.) through a question and answer session.

10. Explain • Teacher will define the two types of free-writing. Instruction will also be given on how to free-write: not editing, not worrying about grammar or other writing conventions, etc.

11. Extensions • As an extra-credit or homework activity, students will identify works of literature that display some of the qualities of a free-write, as defined by the teacher.

12. Technology Connections • Students will use the computer to research topics and find sample writings to share in class.

13. Closure • Teacher will end the lesson with the instruction to prepare to complete two free-writing exercises the next day using the skills and information obtained in today’s lesson.