Brainstorming

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{{info}} Before you start writing an essay, you need ideas.

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Brainstorming helps you collect many thoughts before you begin to write.

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There are many creative ways to do it – choose the ones that work best for you!

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**1. Mind Map – Organize Your Thoughts**

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Write your topic in the middle and draw lines to connect subtopics, like: 

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💡 school – money – time – stress – experience – future

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Add short notes or examples to each subtopic. 

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This helps you see which ideas belong together.

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**2. Think in Roles – Different Perspectives**

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Sometimes it helps to think from different points of view. 

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What would other people say about this topic?

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A student: “I can earn my own money.” 

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A teacher: “It’s hard to focus on schoolwork.” 

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A parent: “It teaches responsibility.”

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**3. The “If…” Trick – Use Your Imagination**

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Creative questions can bring new ideas! 

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Example:

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If you had a part-time job, what would it be?

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If nobody worked during school, what would change?

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**4. Take one possible argument and ask “Why?” five times.**

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Example: Fast food should be banned in schools.

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1. Why? It’s unhealthy.

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1. Why? Too much sugar/fat.

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1. Why? Doesn’t keep you satisfied.

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1. Why is that a problem? Leads to obesity.

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1. Why is that important? Affects concentration and school performance.

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**5. “SPECS” to find different arguments**

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Social – how does it affect people and relationships?

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Political – how do governments / laws react?

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Economic – what about costs, jobs, money?

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Cultural – traditions, values, identity?

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Scientific / Environmental – technology, research, planet?

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Handy sentence to remember: Strong People Explore Creative Solutions

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//Use the Why?-method and brainstorm “Discuss if table football should be placed in general areas of schools.”//

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1. Why? _______________________________________________

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2. Why? _______________________________________________

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3. Why? _______________________________________________

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4. Why is it a problem? ____________________________________

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5. Why is it important? ____________________________________ {{/exercise}}

Wiki source code of Brainstorming