Invention TechniquesInvention Techniques

““Inventing” IdeasInventing” Ideas

Invention What?Invention What?

An invention technique is any method you use to An invention technique is any method you use to come up with ideas for your paper. come up with ideas for your paper.

- Pre-topic- Pre-topic

- Everything goes on paper- Everything goes on paper

- Don’t worry about editing- Don’t worry about editing

- It doesn’t have to look pretty- It doesn’t have to look pretty

- Shorthand is ok- Shorthand is ok

Not every technique works for everybody, so find Not every technique works for everybody, so find one that works for YOUone that works for YOU

BRAINSTORMINGBRAINSTORMING

Write a GENERAL topic idea somewhere on Write a GENERAL topic idea somewhere on a piece of paper in big, bold letters. Then a piece of paper in big, bold letters. Then write down everything that comes to mind write down everything that comes to mind

when you think about that topic.when you think about that topic.

- Don’t analyze- Don’t analyze

- Don’t erase- Don’t erase

- DON’T LIMIT YOURSELF!!- DON’T LIMIT YOURSELF!!

- Short intervals- Short intervals

JournalingJournaling

Basically, what is sounds like. One the top Basically, what is sounds like. One the top of a piece of paper, write down your idea of a piece of paper, write down your idea for a topic. Then, over a period of a for a topic. Then, over a period of a couple of days, write down everything that couple of days, write down everything that comes to mind as an idea to include in comes to mind as an idea to include in your paper.your paper.

- Complete/Incomplete sentences- Complete/Incomplete sentences

- Will look like a journal entry- Will look like a journal entry

Free WritingFree Writing

Similar to journaling, but there are some Similar to journaling, but there are some important differences:important differences:

- not done over a several days; don’t stop- not done over a several days; don’t stop

- will wander further from the topic idea- will wander further from the topic idea

Q & A Session(s)Q & A Session(s)

Make a list of questions, then answer them. Make a list of questions, then answer them. Start with the basics: who, what, when, Start with the basics: who, what, when, why, where, and how.why, where, and how.

- create own questions about what you - create own questions about what you already know and don’t knowalready know and don’t know

- continue throughout writing your paper- continue throughout writing your paper

Picture ItPicture It

If you’re more artistically If you’re more artistically oriented, draw a picture oriented, draw a picture of your topic. Then, label of your topic. Then, label the parts. You’re the parts. You’re essentially identifying essentially identifying different things to include different things to include in a paper, and you’ll be in a paper, and you’ll be able to see how they able to see how they relate to each other.relate to each other.