Brainstorming

Practice 5:
Choose one of the following topics that interest you and write it at the top of your
paper or computer screen. Then brainstorm. Write anything that comes into your
head about the topic. Just let ideas pour out fast!
1. A place I want to go back to
2. dealing with difficult people
3. an unforgettable person in politics, sports, or religious life
4. growing up
5. my best/worst job
6. a first or blind date

Once you fill a page with your list, read it over, marking the most interesting ideas. Draw
arrows or highlight and move text on your screen to connect related ideas. Is there one
idea that might be the subject of a paper?
- dealing with difficult people
Its not easy to deal with difficult people
I try to calm down to deal with
Its not going to solve anything if I act like them
Causes tension
Has lasting affects
Hard to accomplish goals