Free Writing Tasks
Scenario: Student has no idea or clue about how to begin a paper.
Goal: To assist the student in finding a reason, purpose, or possible direction
for a writing a paper.
To build the writer’s motivation and confidence, the Consultant guides and
paces the student through the following free writing tasks at the computer:
1. Student uses prior knowledge and preliminary online research to free
write about the topic or issue.
2. Consultant asks the student the following questions:
 Based on your free writing, can you state a conviction or claim?
 Are there reasons or evidence to support your conviction or
claim?
3. If necessary, the student free writes again.
OR,
4. The student free writes again to develop one reason supporting the
student’s claim. Student can use the following free writing strategies:
 Place a human face on the issue
 Cite a major media event
 Cite lines from a text
 Provide an anecdote from personal experience