Use invention strategies to narrow your topic and scope as well as find the problem/question:

• Ask critical questions to develop your topic and purpose for writing
• Freewrite without editing to avoid self-censoring and allow free flow of ideas
• Map and cluster chart ideas to group concepts and see visual connections
• Write in/refer to your Writer’s Journal or notes for themes and observations
• Use “Taking Flight” to find the personal and social aspects of your ideas (visual) [Antiltz]
• Look for unexpected connections between ideas that aren’t obviously related [Antiltz]
• Create random words list that you use to form connections to your idea [Antiltz]
• Build compound topics using “and” “or” “but” to make pairs of related ideas [Antiltz]
• Consider prayer and meditation if that’s part of your daily practice [Antiltz]
• Create art based on your idea (paint, draw, sculpt, write poetry, doodle)

Ask Critical Questions where “X” is your topic or the problem you’re investigating. You could pair this with freewriting or mapping by responding with text or visuals.

• What is “X” similar to?
• What is “X” different from?
• What is “X” related to or grouped with?
• What are some concrete examples of “X”?
• What have I heard people say about “X”?
• What are some known data or statistics about “X”?
• What is still unknown about “X”?

Use Stasis Theory as a questioning technique to dive deeper into the complexities of your topic. Chart or otherwise answer the questions in each category.

Fact

• Is there an issue/problem?
• How did it begin and what are its causes?
• What changed to create the issue?
• Who is involved?

Definition

• What exactly is the issue? (concise/clear)
• What is it not?
• What kind of issue is it? (where is it located? who is involved?)

Quality

• How serious is the issue?
• What are the costs or potential costs of the issue?

Policy

• Who should address this issue?
• Who does this issue affect? (stakeholders)

Consider the relationships (writer + audience; writer + text/topic; audience + text/topic) to develop approaches and define exigency.

• What sets “X” apart from similar issues?
• What makes “X” uniquely important for me?
• What is my perspective on “X”?
• How is “X” changing?
• What are different varieties of “X”?

Consider the rhetorical situation or location of your topic to create more complex research questions.

• Where and when does “X” take place?
• What is the larger thing that “X” is a part of?
• What is “X”’s function of the larger thing?
• Describe it (what does it look like, sound like, etc..)
• Compare it (what is it like?)
• Associate it (what does it make you think of?)
• Analyze it (how is it made/formed/created?)
• Apply it (uses)

Freewrite for 5 minutes by following these steps:

• Consider your topic briefly (~1 minute)
• Set a timer for 5 minutes
• Start the timer and write for the full 5 minutes without stopping or editing
• Do not worry about grammar, spelling, structure, or organization
• When the timer goes off, take a brief break and return to your writing

Brainstorm for 5 minutes by following these steps:

• Consider your topic briefly (~1 minute)
• Set a timer for 5 minutes
• Start the timer
• Write a list of key words and phrases about your topic
• Keep writing the entire time without editing
• When the timer goes off, take a brief break and return to your list

Try Mapping by following these steps:

• Start with the most basic concept of your issue
• Draw related concepts around the basic concept
• Connect those concepts with arrows, lines, bubbles, branches, shapes, etc.
• Alternative
• Use an online mapping tool like padlet.com to group ideas visually