idea

Examples of idea in the following topics:

• Brainstorming

  • Brainstorming is a prewriting technique used to help generate lots of potential ideas about a topic.
  • At its most basic, brainstorming is listing ideas.
  • We've all had those great conversations in which someone says something that sparks an idea or memory in someone else, which then sparks a further idea, and before you know it, everyone is feeling energized.
  • Jot down notes as the conversation progresses and you hear ideas that spark your interest.
  • Find a whiteboard, pick someone to write, and record ideas, topics, and notes as they come up.

• Step 1: Prewriting and Choosing a Topic

  • You want your ideas to flow like a river, swift and strong, but if you pour out your ideas indiscriminately, the river will overflow its banks.
  • When you have no idea what to write about, prewriting can help get ideas flowing.
  • You might have heard the phrase, "There are no bad ideas in brainstorming."
  • Afterwards, you can pick the best ideas and compile a list.  
  • You designate your primary ideas and group subordinate or supporting ideas underneath them.  

• Clustering and Concept Mapping

  • Creating a concept map is an easy way to visually represent the relationships among your ideas.
  • This is a tactic in which you write down a very broad topic or idea and then make a concept map, in which you diagram smaller ideas or categories (clusters) that relate to the central topic.

• Transitions, Signal Phrases, and Pointing Words

  • Transitions connect your ideas and make it easier for your readers to follow your thought process.
  • The goal of a transition is to clarify for your readers exactly how your ideas are connected.
  • Alternatively, you could conclude by comparing the idea in the current paragraph with the idea in the next:
  • Pointing words let you refer back to complex ideas concisely.
  • Can you see how the pointing words (this, that, these, those) in the following examples serve to link one idea to the next, or to the main idea of the paper?

• Basic Principles of Academic Writing

  • While its features will vary, academic (or scholarly) writing in general tries to maintain a professional tone while arguing for (or against) a specific position or idea.
  • Concision is the art of using the fewest words possible to convey an idea.
  • Unnecessarily complicated wording distracts your reader from your argument; simpler sentence structures let your ideas shine through.
  • It's only a good idea to break these rules and principles if there is a specific, good reason to do so.
  • Therefore, if you plan to dispense with one of the conventions of academic writing, it is a good idea to make sure your instructor approves of your stylistic choice.

• Using Pointing Words

  • Pointing words let you refer back to complex ideas without becoming vague and confusing the reader.
  • These words are used to refer to terms or ideas contained in previous sentences, thereby establishing continuity between by connecting two separate ideas.
  • Pointing words let you refer back to complex ideas without becoming vague and confusing the reader.

• Incorporating Your Sources Into Your Paper

  • Within the pages of your paper, it is important to properly reference and cite your sources to avoid plagiarism and to give credit for original ideas.
  • Summarizing involves distilling the main idea of a source into a much shorter overview.
  • Whether you use a direct quotation, a summary, or a paraphrase, it is important to distinguish the original source from your ideas, and to explain how the cited source fits into your argument.
  • While the use of quotation marks or parenthetical citations tells your reader that these are not your own words or ideas, you should follow the quote with a description, in your own terms, of what the quote says and why it is relevant to the purpose of your paper.

• Introduction to the Thesis Statement

  • A strong thesis statement is specific, focused, and holds tension between ideas.
  • Your thesis is the backbone of your paper, and every fact and idea you add to your paper will support it.
  • All of these ways engage with the currently existing body of academic writing, but add something new: your ideas, framed as a claim based on evidence.
  • There are as many opinions as there are people in the world, and it can be useful to use someone else's idea as a foundation for your own.
  • The key element here is that you are looking at already existing facts and opinions, and then putting them together to prove your idea.

• Collaborating on Academic Writing Projects

  • You should affirm the group members' ideas but also seek out new perspectives during collaboration: "These are all great ideas.
  • Do you have any ideas about this new problem?
  • -Give other group members constructive feedback on their ideas and their work.
  • -Make sure your criticism is constructive—in other words, don't simply shoot down ideas or trash a teammate's work.

• Using the Dictionary and Thesaurus Effectively

  • Because words can differ depending on their context, it is a good idea to check the definition and spelling of any tricky words in a dictionary.
  • If it feels like you keep repeating a word throughout your writing, pull out a thesaurus for ideas on different, more creative choices.