Information collection & exchange

h
at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, the fireman Bill 
g out of a first-floor window 
cream. A boy, about ten 
order to become independent writers, your students not only must master the formal features of written 
glish, but must also become more conscious of the writing process itself and learn techniques which w
m
d
ase whic
and tec
will la
ues
can g
s 
iq
look for and remedy s
s
ef
first draft. 
Pre-writing 
T
purpose of the pre-writing phase of the process is to get the kettle boiling. When your students begin a 
ting project they need ideas, a purpose or plan which will provide a focus for the ideas, the language with 
ich to express the ideas, and enough interest and enthusiasm to sustain the effort of getting the ideas 
wn on paper. Depending upon the ag
d
v
ed for 
rojec
One o
of 
experienced writers, y
g or old, indiv
ally, in s
brainstorming ses
free associate, produce as many
as possible, without worr ng about th
y of the ideas or ab
A
experience, a picture, a map, a reading selection, a textbook topic, even an examination question), 
brainstorming can be used to start the writing process. You can vary the type and content of the prompt 
according to the nature of the writing assignment and the language proficiency of your students. Here is how 
Raimes uses brainstorming together with a picture as a prompt. 
The students see a photograph in which
and playing checkers. (The photograph is from a collect
They are asked to observe and talk about the picture. 
Examples of responses from a group of four students: 
- She is probably about four years old. 
- I wonder who's winning? 
- Where is her mother? 
- Does her mother know she's playing with the old man? 
- He's her 
- I like his face. 
- He looks like my grandfather. 
- She's pretty. 
- What time of day do you think it is? 
T
n
he students make comments and free associations fo
tes, examine them, summar
Techniques in Teaching Writing
a ation of 
estions lead to discussion, which is then followed by a writing assignment. 
Ann Raimes shows an example of speculation as applied to a re
tudents. 
s