Techniques in Selecting and Organizing Information

• Brainstorming is an informal way of generating topics to write about and formulating points for writing
• Brainstorming can be done at any point in the writing process
• Steps to organize information through a brainstorming list:

  • Think of a general topic
  • Brainstorm ideas and make a list
  • Identify related ideas and illustrate connections
  • Cross out topics that may not add enough information
  • Choose two remaining topics and freewrite about each for five minutes
• Brainstorming list can also be based on a thesis statement, the main idea, argument, or purpose of the writing
• Thesis statement is the standpoint of the writer
• Different kinds of graphic organizers

  • Mind Map:Represents knowledge of a concept or idea
  • Start with a central idea and add branches of related major ideas
  • Venn Diagram:
  • Shows similarities and differences between two or more people, objects, or ideas
  • Overlapping circles represent shared traits
  • Flowchart:
  • Shows different steps in a process
  • Order of stages must be followed sequentially
  • Hierarchical Topical Organizer:
  • Shows the order of ideas in a hierarchy
  • Main idea leads to supporting and specific ideas in different levels
• Outline


  Organizes materials sequentially, allows you to group materials by similar concepts or content and put them into logical order
• Topic outline


  A list of the main points and supporting ideas that the writer intends to discuss in writing, uses keywords or key phrases instead of complete sentences
• Parts of a topic outline

  • Headings (main ideas indicated by Roman numerals)
  • Subheadings (supporting ideas indicated by capital letters and indented)
  • Sub-subheadings (specific details or concrete examples of supporting ideas, indicated by Arabic numbers and indented)
• Steps in writing a topic outline


  1. Identify topic, thesis statement, and purpose

  2. Figure out the main points

  3. Arrange main points in logical order

  4. Identify and write down supporting ideas for each main point

  5. Evaluate the outline
• Sentence outline


  A hierarchical outline composed of sentences instead of keywords or key phrases, states the main idea and supporting ideas in full sentences
• Steps in writing a sentence outline


  1. Identify topic, thesis statement, and purpose (in a complete, declarative sentence)

  2. Create a list of main points to support the thesis (in complete sentences)

  3. Write a list of supporting ideas for each main point (in complete sentences)