Idea Development
Thesis & Focus
Idea Development
Ideas are the heart of the message, the main thesis, impression, or storyline, together with the documented support, elaboration, anecdotes, images, or carefully selected details that build understanding and hold the audience’s attention.
Adapted from Source: "6+1 Trait Rubrics." Education Northwest, educationnorthwest.org/resources/61-trait-rubrics. Accessed 20 Aug. 2022.
"How do I know what I think, until I see what I have to say?"
- E. M. Forster
Writing is not a linear process. There are many starts and stops. There are lots of ways to brainstorm and lots of ways to begin. Since no one can tell you before you begin writing just how long it will take or which ideas are the best, save every scrap of what you write. You may find yourself many drafts into a piece when you suddenly want to recall what you had written earlier because you found just the right place for it. If you have discarded it, you'll only have yourself to blame and that's never fun.
Brainstorming
Brainstorming - A wonderful site from the University of North Carolina, it will walk you through the process of many different types of brainstorming.
Freewriting and Clustering - These links are from the comprehensive site -The Guide to Grammar and Writing.
Thesis-Based Research Papers
Click here for help with your thesis statement.
Click here for help with supports/quotes which will prove your thesis.
Help from our Library Media Center
Check out The Writer's Reference Center, a great database from our LMC.
For the username and password, click here.