Free Writing - Getting The Thoughts From Your Head to Your Paper
This method was taught to me in the dark ages, otherwise known as my high school years. At that time I think my teacher called it stream of consciousness writing. I've heard some people refer to it as garbage writing. I don't like to think of any writing as garbage. I think all writing is useable, recyclable, or practice, but that's probably a good topic for another post.
However, nearly every writer sits in front of an empty screen or blank sheet of paper and has no clue what to write. If you have a writing task before you, brainstorming will help free up the brain and generate ideas.
That's where the free writing technique comes in, and there are several ways to do it. For all of these set a time for however many minutes you think is appropriate. Five to fifteen is a pretty good range depending on your student's age and ability. Some instructors use the rule that you have to keep writing and not lift your pen from the paper. If you can't think of anything to say, you can keep writing I can't think of anything or something similar, and the boredom of repetition will most likely prompt you to think of something. Tell the students that the purpose of this type of writing is to get thoughts to flow. They shouldn't slow down to correct punctuation, grammar, or spelling. Free writing is an idea generating activity.
Free Writing Methods
1. Let it go -- (sorry for any inadvertent ear worm that phrase caused) Write whatever comes to mind; don't give a particular prompt, topic, or stimulus.
2. Write by Music -- Choose instrumental or vocal music without words. Pieces that are unfamiliar to your students are best. Perhaps, choose several short pieces to fill the time period.
3. A Picture is Worth (however many words you can jot down) -- Use a photograph or drawing as a prompt. Consider displaying more than one visual prompt so that students may choose.
4. One word -- Choose a word and show the students how to play word association. This prompt is also good for a group activity. If you are studying parts of speech, you can choose a word from whichever category you are studying that day. For examples, abstract nouns, concrete nouns, adjectives, adverbs, action verbs, etc. For more advanced students use types of phrases as prompts. This exercise is also a good method for reinforcing the meaning of vocabulary words.
5. Current Events -- Use grade appropriate newspaper articles and have the students jot down their thoughts or questions about the event.
Free writing exercises can be used as a springboard for more formal writing assignments, or they can be kept in an idea file or binder for later use. Free writing may be done for fun, or it may be a way to brainstorm for a specific project. Either way, it is one method to help your students get the thoughts out of their brain and onto paper.
However, nearly every writer sits in front of an empty screen or blank sheet of paper and has no clue what to write. If you have a writing task before you, brainstorming will help free up the brain and generate ideas.
That's where the free writing technique comes in, and there are several ways to do it. For all of these set a time for however many minutes you think is appropriate. Five to fifteen is a pretty good range depending on your student's age and ability. Some instructors use the rule that you have to keep writing and not lift your pen from the paper. If you can't think of anything to say, you can keep writing I can't think of anything or something similar, and the boredom of repetition will most likely prompt you to think of something. Tell the students that the purpose of this type of writing is to get thoughts to flow. They shouldn't slow down to correct punctuation, grammar, or spelling. Free writing is an idea generating activity.
Free Writing Methods
1. Let it go -- (sorry for any inadvertent ear worm that phrase caused) Write whatever comes to mind; don't give a particular prompt, topic, or stimulus.
2. Write by Music -- Choose instrumental or vocal music without words. Pieces that are unfamiliar to your students are best. Perhaps, choose several short pieces to fill the time period.
3. A Picture is Worth (however many words you can jot down) -- Use a photograph or drawing as a prompt. Consider displaying more than one visual prompt so that students may choose.
4. One word -- Choose a word and show the students how to play word association. This prompt is also good for a group activity. If you are studying parts of speech, you can choose a word from whichever category you are studying that day. For examples, abstract nouns, concrete nouns, adjectives, adverbs, action verbs, etc. For more advanced students use types of phrases as prompts. This exercise is also a good method for reinforcing the meaning of vocabulary words.
5. Current Events -- Use grade appropriate newspaper articles and have the students jot down their thoughts or questions about the event.
Free writing exercises can be used as a springboard for more formal writing assignments, or they can be kept in an idea file or binder for later use. Free writing may be done for fun, or it may be a way to brainstorm for a specific project. Either way, it is one method to help your students get the thoughts out of their brain and onto paper.