Prewriting.

Prewriting is the first stage of writing that focuses on planning and organizing your writing (1). Tasks associated with this stage include (1):

  • Determining your purpose,
  • Developing a thesis, and
  • Organizing your paper.

Devoting time to the prewriting stage can clarify your purpose, strengthen your argument, and improve your organization.

Determining your Purpose

Before you begin to write, be sure you clearly understand your purpose (1,2). If you are writing for a course, review the assignment’s description and rubric. Be sure to clarify any questions you may have about the assignment with your professor or TA. When determining your purpose, ask yourself:

  • What is my general topic?
  • Who is my audience?
  • What does my audience know about my topic?
  • What style and tone of writing will help me communicate with my audience?
  • What will I be arguing?
  • What evidence is needed to support my argument (1,2)?

If you are having trouble deciding on your purpose, try these methods to help you refine your ideas:

  • Brainstorming. Brainstorming is an approach that allows yourself space to freely generate ideas and hone your topic (1). One type of brainstorming is listing everything that comes to mind when thinking about writing your paper (1). After creating the list, ask yourself critical questions about each item you listed. Responding may help you think through each idea. For more ways to creatively brainstorm, check out this video.
  • Discuss. Find a friend, classmate, or professor and talk through your ideas. You may find that one topic naturally becomes easier to talk about or is more intriguing to you.
  • Start with the Data. Look at related tables, graphs, and maps. Think about what the data is saying and if you see any interesting trends or patterns.

Thesis Development

After careful consideration of your evidence, you should revisit your aims and develop a strong thesis statement. Your thesis should clearly identify the public health problem and your purpose (3). It should address your audience, establish a clear position, and outline your key points (3,4).

For more information about developing a thesis, visit:

Organization

After determining your purpose, gathering your research, and developing your thesis, you should consider organizing and planning your paper before diving into writing it. First, you should understand the format of your paper. This step can help you discern how to arrange and present your argument. Reviewing your assignment’s instructions and strong examples are excellent ways to learn the format of your paper. For in-class assignments, if you need clarity on how to format your paper, check with your instructor. Your instructor’s guidelines should always take priority over general suggestions found in this guide. For more general information on typical types of writing in public health, visit the Specific Types of Public Health Writing section.

Once you are familiar with the type of writing you will be doing, reflect on how your research will fit into this format. Exercises such as outlining your argument or creating lists of your main points can help you create a writing plan (3,5). After you have created a plan, reflect on it. Make sure your points flow logically and that they support your overall thesis (3). Reconsider your audience and make sure the points would be appealing and easy for them to understand. After you create a plan, see how your research fits into it. All of your research may not stay in your draft; interesting findings may not always naturally fit into your paper (3,5).

Need new ways to think about organizing your information? Try these strategies:

  • Clustering. Make a diagram with the central topic in the middle. List words you associate with the topic. Diagram how the sub-topics each relate to the central topic and draw branches that show relationships (1).
  • Storyboard. Write your thesis and your main supporting topics at the top of different note cards. On each topic card, describe your evidence that supports the claim or note the evidence you will need to gather to support it. Arrange each card on a wall or desk to visually see how the topics relate logically together (5).

Additional Resources

Below are some videos that demonstrate some prewriting techniques:

References

  1. Ryan L, Zimmerelli L. The Bedford guide for writing tutors. 5th ed. United States of America: Bedford/St. Martin’s; 2010.
  2. Swales J, Feak C. Academic writing for graduate students. 2nd ed. United States of America: University of Michigan Press; 2004.
  3. Hoing L. Writing resource guide. Boston, Massachusetts: Boston University School of Public health; 2002.
  4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Thesis Statements [Internet]. The Writing Center. 2013 [cited 2014 Jul 15]. Available from: http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/thesis-statements/
  5. Booth W, Colomb G, Williams J. The craft of research. 3rd ed. United States of America: University of Chicago Press; 2008.