Reading and Writing

• Comprehension - understanding what was written or said
• Brainstorming is an invention and discovery strategy in composition where the writer works with others to explore topics, develop ideas, and propose solutions to a problem
• Brainstorming is defined as a "process for generating creative ideas and solutions through intensive and freewheeling group discussion," where each participant is encouraged to think aloud and suggest as many ideas as possible
• The goal of a brainstorming session is to "work as a group to define a problem and find a plan of action to solve it"
• Alex Osborn, an early proponent of brainstorming, outlined the process in his 1953 book "Applied Imagination: Principles and Practices of Creative Thinking," including phases like orientation, preparation, analysis, incubation, synthesis, and verification
• Osborne established four basic rules for brainstorming:

  1. Criticism is ruled out initially.

  2. Freewheeling is encouraged.

  3. Quantity is the goal.

  4. A combination and improvement are sought
• Brainstorming strategies can be classified into basic categories like cubing, freewriting, listing, mapping, and researching
•  Cubing: This strategy allows you to consider your topic from six different perspectives, just like a six-sided cube. Cubing involves describing, comparing, associating, analyzing, applying, and arguing for and against an idea.
• Freewriting: When you do this, you allow your thoughts to flow freely, putting pen to paper (or dry erase pen on a whiteboard) and writing down whatever comes to mind, or to the minds of the group members.
• Listing: In this technique, also known as bulleting, you jot down lists of words or phrases related to a specific topic.
• Mapping: With this, you list a variety of terms and phrases that branch off from the main topic. This method is also known as "webbing" because the end result resembles a spider web with your brainstormed ideas branching out from the main topic in the center.
• Researching: Also known as the journalistic method; involves asking the "big six" questions that journalists use to investigate a story: who, what, when, where, why, and how. You and your group then spend a few minutes researching the answers to these questions if necessary, or simply discussing the answers if group members already know the answers.
• “Discover Ideas Through Brainstorming” by Richard Nordquist Updated May 30, 2019.
• Brainstorming can be done individually or in groups.