Name:______________________________

Meeting Time:_______________________

Invention Style: Listing, Quick Drafting,& Clustering

Part 1: Choosing an issue Make a list of any current phenomena that you could write about. This does not have to be an earth-shattering or nationally recognized issue. It simply has to be something you feel strongly about; something that needs to be fixed. See pp. 437-39 if you need some ideas to get you started.

1. 6.)
2. 7.)
3. 8.)
4. 9.)
5. 10.)

Part 2: Picking a subject: Look over your list of possibilities, and circle one subject you think you might want to write about.

Part 3: Quick Draft Now quick draft for about a page or so. You may use either the freewriting of stream of consciousness methods. Consider everything you know about the subject and what got you interested in it.

Part 4: Listing Causes List all the things that you can think of that might have caused the phenomenon or trend.

1. 6.)
2. 7.)
3. 8.)
4. 9.)
5. 10.)

* Consider the following: (1) immediate causes (2) remote, background causes (3) perpetuating causes (4) obvious cause (5) hidden causes

Part 5: Narrowing the Causes Review you list; then select 5 or 6 causes that seem to you to provide a plausible explanation of your subject.

Part 6: Clustering On a separate piece of paper complete a column clustering. List each of your causes at the top of a column. Under each cause give reasons why you believe these to be accurate and important.

Part 7: Jot down what things you will need to research so that you have a convincing argument. Also note what areas seem weak. Consider rewriting, researching, or dropping these.

Part 8: Testing your choice Answer the following questions:

1. Does the subject still interest me?

 

2. Do I believe I can describe and define it in a way that will interest readers and show them that it is a phenomenon or a trend?

 

3. Have I been able to come up with several possible causes?

 

4. Do any of the causes I have come up with go beyond the simply obvious ones?

 

5. Do I want to research this subject further?

Part 9: Outlining Now try doing a sketch outline of one of your key causes.

Part 10: Anticipating Objections What objections do you think someone might have to what you just sketched out? If your stumped trying asking the person next to you. Change, adjust, or add to your previous sketch to allow for this objection.

Part 11: Alternative Causes: Write now a few things others might saw caused the phenomenon or a trend you are writing about.

Part 12: Thesis Statement Now review what you have written so far and see if you can for a tentative thesis statement for this essay. You may with to do a looping exercise or additional freewriting to focus in on your subject. Consider what you want your reader to walk away from this essay with.