describe a method to use to begin planning your writing

Answer 1

The following pre-writing/planning strategies can be helpful and tailored to different writing tasks:

1. Unpack/analyze the prompt or question if you are assigned a writing task. Ask yourself - what is this task asking me to do as a writer? Who is the audience? What is the purpose? These questions will help you begin to generate ideas for prompt-based writing and formulate an idea of the length (number of paragraphs, etc.)
2. If there is no prompt or it's a very open-ended task begin brainstorming ideas. Brainstorming might take the form of oral rehearsal (talking through your ideas verbally either into a recorder or with a peer/colleague/tutor, etc.) or written brainstorming in the form of a web, T-chart (two-column chart), bulleted list or outline depending on your planning preferences.
3. Once you have a brainstormed list or plan in some format (either verbal or in writing) you are ready to begin drafting. You can draft from beginning to end or pick a place in the middle based on your plan. Just begin writing wherever it feels natural (you can always come back to your introduction or any other section and built it out in later drafts/revision). Keep your pencil (or typing fingers) moving as much as possible in the drafting phase. Don't worry about spelling, punctuation, sentence fluency or formatting too much - these can all be tackled in a reread and the revision phase once you have your key ideas on paper/screen.

Happy Writing!