American InterContinental University Writing Styles Discussion

Use these videos for help on how to post to the Discussion Board:

AIU Student Mobile app view

Desktop view

Assignment Details

Prewriting Strategy

After you have selected a topic and have thoroughly looked at it from both sides of the issue, it is time to begin collecting your thoughts on how the essay will proceed and what shape the essay will take. To get started, you will use a crucial component of writing called prewriting. Prewriting can take one of several forms: brainstorming, freewriting, mind mapping, outlining, or journaling. This discussion thread will allow you to consider one of these prewriting strategies and then expand on why you believe it would work best for your topic and selected audience.

Analyze and identify your audience. Write a paragraph to explain who you will address in your paper and how they could benefit from your topic.

Review the list of the prewriting strategies:

Brainstorming

Freewriting

• Diagraming

Mind mapping 

Outlining

• Journaling

Choose 1 of the prewriting strategies to try for your essay.

Provide an explanation of the strategy in your own words. Explain why you think it will help you develop ideas.

Of all of the prewriting strategies you did not select, which do you feel would be the least help to you? Explain why.

Revise your introductory paragraph from last week to apply feedback from your instructor, and share it in this Discussion Board to obtain feedback from your peers.

Responses to Peers: Offer feedback about someone else’s explanation of audience and whether his or her introductory paragraph captures the intended audience’s attention and introduces the issue and thesis statement. Use the following questions as a guide in your discussion:

Would the introductory paragraph capture the intended audience’s attention? Why or why not?

Does the paragraph effectively introduce the issue and thesis statement? What suggestions for improvement would you recommend?