Writing: Planning, Drafting, Revising & Editing (Introduction) (B1) - Lesson 1: Brainstorming Ideas Before Writing

B1 Lesson 1: Brainstorming Ideas Before Writing

Welcome to a new series on the writing process! A great piece of writing doesn't just appear. It starts with a plan. The very first step of planning is called brainstorming¹.

Brainstorming is the process of generating many ideas about a topic before you start writing. It helps you overcome the fear of a blank page and organize your thoughts. Today, we'll learn two effective techniques.

Technique 1: Listing

This is the simplest brainstorming method. Just write your topic at the top of a page and then list every word or phrase that comes to your mind. Don't worry about spelling or grammar, and don't stop to judge your ideas. Just write!

Example Brainstorm List

Topic: The benefits of learning a new language.

• get a better job
• tourism industry
• talk to foreigners
• make new friends
• understand other cultures
• fun
• watch movies without subtitles
• good for the brain
• travel is easier
• feel more confident

Technique 2: Mind Mapping

A mind map² is a visual way to brainstorm. It helps you see the connections between your ideas.

1. Write your main topic in a circle in the center.
2. Draw lines out to main ideas (sub-topics).
3. Draw smaller lines from the main ideas for specific details.

Benefits of Learning a Language

Career

Better job

Tourism industry

Personal Growth

More confident

Good for brain

Culture & Fun

New friends

Watch movies

Next Step: Create a Simple Outline

After you brainstorm, look at your ideas and group them into main points. This creates a simple outline³ for your paragraph or essay. From the mind map above, we found three main points: Career, Personal Growth, and Culture & Fun.

✍️ Pre-Writing Checklist

• ✔️ Do I understand my topic?
• ✔️ Have I spent 5-10 minutes brainstorming ideas using Listing or Mind Mapping?
• ✔️ Have I looked at my ideas and grouped them into 2-3 main points?
• ✔️ Do I have a basic outline or plan before I start writing my first draft⁴?

🧠 Practice Quiz: Grouping Ideas

Imagine you have made the following brainstorm list for the topic "Living in a Big City." How would you group these ideas?

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List: many restaurants, more job opportunities, noisy, lots of traffic, good universities, fun nightlife, expensive rent, crowded.

How would you group these into "Advantages" and "Disadvantages"?

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Answer:

Advantages: many restaurants, more job opportunities, good universities, fun nightlife.

Disadvantages: noisy, lots of traffic, expensive rent, crowded.

📝 Homework: Brainstorm a Topic

Your homework is to practice brainstorming. You do NOT have to write a full essay.

1. Choose ONE topic below:

• The advantages and disadvantages of social media.
• Why is it important to protect Cambodia's natural environment?

2. Choose ONE brainstorming technique (Listing or Mind Mapping).

3. On a piece of paper, spend 5-10 minutes creating a detailed brainstorm list or mind map for your chosen topic. The goal is to generate as many ideas as possible!

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Brainstorming: (Noun) - ការបញ្ចេញគំនិត - The process of thinking and writing down many ideas about a topic before you start to write. ↩
2. Mind Map: (Noun) - ផែនទីគំនិត - A visual diagram used to organize information, with a central idea and connected branches. ↩
3. Outline: (Noun) - គ្រោង - A basic plan of a piece of writing that shows the main points and their order. ↩
4. Draft: (Noun) - ការព្រាង - The first version of a piece of writing. ↩
5. Planning: (Noun) - ការធ្វើផែនការ - The process of deciding how you are going to do something before you start.