Paul B. Diederich\u2019s traits model greatly influenced the Six Traits of Writing. Diederich believed that both IDEAS and ORGANIZATION deserved greater weight than the other traits. Since both are so important, prewriting becomes critical. Prewriting is the process of generating and organizing ideas.<\/p>\n
Good prewriting skills lead to good ideas. If students assume that the first ideas that come to mind are the best, they won\u2019t become effective writers or take pride in their writing. They must understand that their initial ideas are just the tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n
Mass idea generation through prewriting turns this process into a habit of thinking and awareness. While students don\u2019t need to do prewriting for every assignment, they must understand that their initial ideas are just a starting point. To uncover their best ideas, they need many ideas.<\/p>\n
With my prewriting system, students quickly generate at least 80 unique ideas within 5-10 minutes, covering various main ideas. This habit ensures they have plenty of ideas to choose from for their best work.<\/p>\n
Just as prewriting is essential for developing ideas and organizing thoughts, the process of acting and rehearsing reveals deeper layers and understanding. Let me illustrate this with an analogy from my background in acting and theater. It relates to the benefits of prewriting!<\/p>\n
Many actors believe that the best way to learn acting is by performing in the theater, as acting classes often fall short. Here\u2019s why: In acting classes, you might rehearse and perform a scene a few times. That\u2019s it. You think you\u2019ve explored the character fully.<\/p>\n
However, in theater, you rehearse a part 4-5 days a week for five weeks. By opening night, you\u2019ve uncovered many layers that were previously hidden. Six weeks later, on closing night, you realize how much more you\u2019ve discovered about your character and the play. You understand that even on opening night, you had only scratched the surface.<\/p>\n
For the next play, you start with the awareness that many layers and nuances are still hidden. You know you don\u2019t fully grasp the big picture or the subtleties you will soon understand. This awareness drives you to continuously seek new ideas and interpretations. You develop new methods for uncovering the complex possibilities hidden in the script.<\/p>\n
With each additional play, you become quicker at uncovering these possibilities. You learn that there are endless possibilities; some are discovered early, others too late. But with each experience, you get better and faster at uncovering them.<\/p>\n
Like an actor\u2019s continuous exploration and discovery during rehearsals, effective prewriting allows students to dive deeper into their ideas and structure. By engaging fully in prewriting, students can uncover hidden possibilities and enhance their overall writing, much like an actor enhances their performance through thorough preparation.<\/p>\n
Generating ideas shouldn\u2019t be a challenge for students. If they struggle to come up with plenty of ideas, it\u2019s often because they haven\u2019t developed the habit of idea generation.<\/p>\n
Students must identify the \u201cbig picture\u201d and the \u201cfine details\u201d early in the writing process. We don\u2019t want students to wait until the editing or revising stages to improve their work. An effective prewriting system improves students\u2019 ideas and organization before they begin writing!<\/p>\n
Over the years, I\u2019ve explored many prewriting systems and activities. While many of these activities are creative, they often lack practicality for consistent use across the curriculum and in daily writing.<\/p>\n
Graphic organizers are fantastic tools\u2014I love them! They function like math manipulatives for writing. However, they are not always practical for students to use consistently across subjects and daily tasks. In fact, they can sometimes become more of a distraction than a help. Students need a prewriting system that allows them to generate ideas, organize ideas, and complete their work quickly.<\/p>\n
Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay<\/a><\/strong><\/span> has a built-in prewriting system that gets students in the habit of generating at least 80 unique ideas over a range of main ideas in 5-10 minutes.<\/p>\nThe Eight Qualities of a Highly Effective Prewriting System<\/h2>\n