Writing Ideas (Part 3) – I Need Writing Ideas!

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     So now we know what we want to write our report on.  We have worked hard to come up with an idea.

     Now what?

     There are some obvious and not so obvious sources to gather information.

Obvious Sources (good for informational essays, expositions, and reports)

·         Go online.  Find reliable sources of information.  Get information from several websites and make sure you reference your sources.  An online encyclopedia is a great place to start.

·         Read books and magazines.  Again, make sure you cite your sources.  Make sure you don’t copy word for word.  Write some point form notes then put them into your own words.

·         Interview people in the community. Who better to talk to than a doctor if you are doing a report on the digestive system?

·         Visit the museum or local science center.  These places are perfect for finding reliable information.

Not So Obvious Sources (good for stories, narratives, and essays)

·         Talk to friends, teachers, and family members.  Get some good ideas from others.

·         For narratives and stories, go people watching.  Examine people’s mannerisms when you are at the mall.

·         A great way to get ideas for characters is to watch television and movies.  Choose some characters you like and create your own character with similar traits.

     Try to use as many sources as you can and you will find that you will have a great deal of information on any topic.

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