Invention in Writing
Bizzaro, Patrick. (2003). Invention in the Poetry Writing Class: Adventures in Speech Genres. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the SCIWay Website: http://www.sciway.net/edu/k12/cet9596/bizzaro.html
- Applies Bakhtin's theory of speech genres to writing invention.
Cleveland State University Writing Center. (2004). Invention, the Child of Necessity: Getting Papers Started. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the Cleveland State University Writing Center Website: http://www.csuohio.edu/writingcenter/invent.html
- Good article on invention, including discussion of various invention strategies.
Florida State University English Department. (2003). First-Year Writing Teacher's Guide, 2003 - 2004 Edition. Part IV: Teaching Ideas and Advice. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the Florida State University English Department Website: http://writing.fsu.edu/fyw/tguide/p4/part4j.htm
- Good article and practical classroom advice on teaching invention strategies.
Goscik, Karen. (2004). Tutor-Training Resources: Addressing Specific Problems: Invention. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the Dartmouth Writing Center Website: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/tutor/problems/invention.shtml
- Outlines invention strategies for tutors.
Harris, Stuart. (2004). Invention: The First Stage in the Writing Process. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from Stuart Harris' Home Page: http://www.cumberland.edu/users/sharris/Invention.ppt
- Powerpoint presentation on invention. Would be a good lecture aid.
Howard, Rebecca Moore. (2004). Sources on Invention. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the Syracuse University Website: http://wrt-howard.syr.edu/Bibs/Invention.htm
- Lengthy bibliography of print sources for writing invention. Very good resource for in-depth theoretical and practical research.
Hunter College Reading/Writing Center. (1998). Invention Techniques. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the Hunter College Reading/Writing Center Website: http://rwc.hunter.cuny.edu/writing/on-line/invention.html
- Definition of different invention techniques, including brainstorming, freewriting, Aristotle's topoi, Burke's pentad, journalists' questions, etc.
Kies, Daniel. (2004). The Common Topics and Other Aids to Invention. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the HyperTextBooks Website: http://papyr.com/hbp/discours.htm
- Nature and benefits of invention.
Major, Wendy. (1994). Freewriting: A Means of Teaching Critical Thinking to College Freshmen. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from The Guide to Grammar and Writing Website: http://cctc2.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/brainstorm_freewrite.htm
- Includes tips on freewriting, as well as an interactive freewriting page - this would be a good page for students to visit!
Manoa Writing Program. (2004). Freewriting. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the University of Hawaii Website: http://mwp01.mwp.hawaii.edu/freewriting.htm
- Definition of freewriting and its uses. Includes a number of resources for making your classroom "writing intensive."
Newman, Judith M. (2004). Invention Techniques. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the Lupinworks Literacy and Learning Website: http://www.lupinworks.com/roche/pages/invention.php
- Definitions and useful tips for the most commonly-used invention techniques.
Purdue University Online Writing Lab. Planning (Invention). Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the Purdue University Online Writing Lab Website: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_plan2.html
- Handouts with tips for invention.
Smith, Ken. (2004). Weblogs in Higher Education. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the Indiana University South Bend English Department Website: http://www.mchron.net/site/edublog.php?id=P2958
- Makes a good case for using weblogs (or "blogs") as a type of daily journaling. Discusses the benefit of devleoping "writerly habits of mind" through blogging or journaling.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale Writing Center. Some Invention Techniques. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the SIUC Writing Center Website: http://www.siu.edu/~write/PDF/invention.pdf
- Concise listing of invention techniques.
Texas A&M University Writing Center. (2004). Invention Techniques. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the Texas A&M Univeristy Writing Center Website: http://uwc.tamu.edu/faculty/pedagogy/respond/Invention.html
- Good aritcle on invention, including an outline of common techniques.
University of Arizona Writing Program. (2004). Invention, Journaling, and Pre/Freewriting. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the University of Arizona English Department's Writing Program Website: http://ml12.english.arizona.edu/topic/invention.html
- Suggestions and proposed assignments for invention activities.
University of Texas English Department. (2004). Teaching Students Effective Invention Strategies. Retrieved November 10, 2004, from the University of Texas Website: http://www.swc.utexas.edu/highschool/hsinvention.shtml
- Invention strategies. Includes an introduction that points out that invention shows students that they can produce multiple ideas before writing their papers, then choose the best of those ideas (then draft, invent some more, draft, etc.)
Scholarly Sources
Brostoff, Anita. (1983). Using Problem-Solving to Think and Write: Tagmemics for High School Students. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Conference on College Composition and Communication (34th, Detroit, MI, March 17-19, 1983). (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED234384)
- Discusses writing as a thinking and discovery process through heuristics. Outlines the process of using a tagmemic heuristic, as well as the difficulties and benefits.
Bruno, Maria. (2002). Creative Writing: The Warm-Up. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Conference on College Composition and Communication (53rd, Chicago, IL, March 20-23, 2002). (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED464335)
- Presents some unusual but interesting freewriting aids and techniques.
Hunt, Russell A. (1999). What Is "Inkshedding"? Paper presented at the Annual Inkshed Working Conference (16th, Mont Gabriel, Quebec, Canada, May 6-9, 1999). (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED464515)
- Discusses the benefits of dialogue in freewriting.
McGlinn, James E., and McGlinn, Jeanne M. (1990). Problem Solving and Prewriting: Mental Play in the Writing Class. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the College English Association (Buffalo, NY, April 5-7, 1990). (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED321278)
- Draws parallells between the pre-writing process and the creative problem-solving process.
Moxley, Roy A., et al. (1995). Self-Recorded Word Counts of Freewriting in Grades 1-4. Education and Treatment of Children, volume 18, p. 138 - 57. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ509963)
- Helps clarify some of the tangible benefits of regular freewriting, including improvements in writing speed and quality.
Pearce, R. Charles. (1988). Overcoming Fear and Loathing in Advertising Copywriting Courses. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (71st, Portland, OR, July 2-5, 1988). (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED296320)
- Discusses the benefits of freewriting and groupwork in writing. Proposes the instructor as a writing partner instead of a grammar and mechanics corrector.
Smith, Eugene. (1984). Conducting a Follow-Up Study of Students in Writing Courses. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED247596)
- Studies retention and use of pre-writing techniques in years following students' enrollment in the researcher's college writing course.
Tompkins, Gail E., and Camp, Donna J. (1988). RX for Writer's Block. Childhood Education, volume 64, p. 209 - 14. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. EJ370908)
- Proposes pre-writing as a remedy for writer's block.
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