Part 1: Create a cluster Open a new document in your word processing program. Save your document to your desktop as Writer 02 Cluster and Fastwrite. If you prefer an online tool and like to play around while you learn to use a new tool, a suggested site you can use is Brainstorming made simple. You can create an account and use this site for clusters in other courses you are taking.

Type or write your main topic in a key word or phrase in the middle. Draw a circle around it.

Type or jot down all the related ideas that you can think of, clustering them around your central thought. Draw a circle around each word or idea as you write it, and draw a line to the central thought.

Type or write down any secondary ideas that were sparked by these words and again circle them, this time drawing a line to the word that sparked the idea. Repeat the first three steps until you run out of ideas.

Allow the spokes and circles of your cluster to be free flowing. You’ll organize them next.

Save your document.

Part 2: Be a critic

Review your cluster.

Cross out the ideas you don’t want to use.

Star your main points.

Number your starred ideas in the order you want them to appear in a piece of writing.

Save your document again. If you use the http://bubbl. us/edit. php tool, you will need to create an account, save your cluster, then copy and paste the link to your cluster into your assessment. You can also take a screen shot of your cluster if you prefer not to create an account.

Part 3: Create a fastwrite

Use the starred topics of your cluster to start sentences.

Type information that interests you.

Make no changes, and do not start over; just type.

Type whatever comes to mind as quickly as you can.

Keep your thoughts flowing until you’ve completely run out of ideas and asked all the questions you can think of.

Include as many ideas from your cluster as possible, and ask as many questions as you can.

Use visual cues, like underlining or italicizing information.

Save your document.