LESSON 4.2
Brainstorm “New” Ideas
Grades 1-3
The Key to Good Writing
Picking an interesting subject is the most important part of writing.
Brainstorm for Quantity, not Quality
Come up with as many ideas as possible.
There are no silly ideas.
Task 4.2.1 – Class
If you could be any wild animal, what would you be? Why?
- Write your answer on a piece of paper. Don’t worry about spelling.
- Your teacher then will have each of you read your answer.
Task 4.2.2 – Class
Grade the ideas, using the following grades:
A = Most adults would not think of this and are likely to say “Wow!”
B = Most adults would not think of this.
C = Most adults would think of this.
Funneling
Funneling means you make a B or C idea smaller and smaller. It gives you a better chance of finding a subject that will interest adults. Adults are busy. They don’t want to read about what they already know.
Do not use descriptive words, such as—
Horse
Wild horse
Small wild horse
Small brown wild horse
It’s still just a horse!
Correct funneling goes like this:
Horse
Wild horse
Shetland horse
Mongolian horse
Or—
Bird
Robin
Cuckoo bird
Shoebill
Most people, however, don’t know enough about horses or birds to do that. Therefore—
Task 4.2.3 – Small Groups
Funnel down until you come up with ideas that your readers are unlikely to know much about AND are likely to interest them.
- Unique animals
- Rare animals
- Strange animals
Your Own Animal?
This writing will be about a wild animal.
So pets are not allowed.
Task 4.2.4 – Small Groups
Add Task 4.3.3 animals to Task 4.3.2 animals. Make sure you have at least 10 animals. Then choose 10.