Clustering
Listing
Freewriting
Brainstorming
Clustering
Listing
Freewriting Clustering
1. Start with the main topic of your essay. Write that word in
the center of your paper.
2. Write down any sub-topics that are connected to that main
topic. Draw arrows to the sub-topics from the main topic.
Transportation
Alcatraz Museums
San Francisco
Listing
Freewriting Clustering
3. If you have new ideas, connect those words to the
appropriate sub-topic.
San Francisco
Restaurants
Completed
Chinatown Golden Gate 1937
Stores
Bridge
Scenic View
Theaters Fisherman’s
Wharf
Clam Ships
Chowder boats
Clustering
Clustering
Listing
Freewriting Example #1
View of
Sunny Trees
Yellow
View of
Sky Good-
Windows Bedroom Sized
Favorite
Room
Soft Bed Comfortable Big Closet
Furniture
Rocking
Chair
Quiet
Clustering
Clustering
Listing
Freewriting Example #2
Volleyball Soccer
Cleaned
Housewife Houses Went to
Liked church
Sports Very
Waitress Taught
Religious Sunday
Hard Worker School
Gave to
My Mother charity
Listing
Freewriting Listing
1. Start with the main topic of your essay. Write that word or
words at the top of your paper.
Listing
Freewriting Listing
Why I Want to Become a Nurse
Listing
Freewriting Example #1
How to be a Successful
Language Learner
Listing
Freewriting Example #2
Cambodia
Listing
Freewriting Freewriting
1. Start with the main topic of your essay. Write that word or
words at the top of your paper.
My Favorite Book
Brainstorming
Clustering
Listing
Freewriting Freewriting
My Favorite Book
Listing
Freewriting Example #1
A Problem I Have
Listing
Freewriting Example #2
Things I Brought to the U.S.
I have been living in the U.S.A. for about four years. When I cam here,
I brought with me a few books, my favorite T-shirts, and a little hand-
made pillow from my mother. Among some of the books I brought with me
is one called The Little Prince. It is a very interesting book. Every time I
read it, I find new and different ideas that I can practice in my life. Some
of my favorite T-Shirts are souvenirs from places which I had visited in
Colombia where I come from and they remind me of the good times I had.
The little handmade pillow from my mother is a small cotton square, with
five lines around it and my Christian name on it. Sometimes when I have
difficulties in my courses, I look at it asking for help like my mother used
to give me when I was living at home.
And what I left behind was a happy family life, my good friends, and a
pretty city in the north of Colombia near the Atlantic Ocean, where it is
always sunny and windy. (Raimes, 1987)
Practice Exercise