Paul Mundy www.mamud.com

Outlining

A suggested outline (policy brief) Title Author Summary Statement of the issue or problem Background Existing policy situation Policy options 

Advantages and disadvantages of each option Evidence based on your research

Your recommendations References or further reading

Situation

Analysis

Problem Intervention Results

RecommendationsExamples

Develop a structure, then put information into it

1. Decide what categories you want to use (or must use)

2. Put the categories in a logical order

3. Sort your notes into these categories

SituationAnalysis

ProblemIntervention

Results

RecommendationsExamples

Develop the structure from the information itself1. Sort your information into categories: put

similar types of information together

2. Give each category a title

3. Sort the categories into a logical order

InterventionResults

Recommendations

ExamplesAnalysis

Intervention

RecommendationsExamples

Problem AnalysisProblemSituation Situation

Results

Four ways to start writing

Write a summary sentence Write some possible leads Write an ending Write without notes

Overcoming writer’s block 1

Brainstorm Get ideas from a group Use cards to sort ideas

Make a mind map Write down thoughts on the topic in a mind map

diagram Get someone to interview you

Tell him/her about your topic He/she takes notes and ask questions

Overcoming writer’s block 2

Write down ideas in any order Don’t worry about the words or sentence flow Reorder ideas Find the right words, then rewrite

Begin in the middle Leave the intro till later, when you have a clearer

idea of what the paper is about Make a recording

Imagine your audience in front of you Transcribe the recording

Overcoming writer’s block 3

Change the audience Pretend you're writing to a child, a friend,

someone new to the subject Explain the topic slowly and clearly

Play a role Pretend you are someone else writing Eg, head of an NGO, company lobbyist

Brainstorming 1

Needs several people

Take 5 minutes to think of ideas Write ideas on cards

– one per card Each person gives

one idea in turn Go around group

until ideas are exhausted

Brainstorming 2

Put cards on table or floor Sort cards into categories Develop outline from

categories Categories become

major headings Individual cards

become subheadings or points

Brainstorming rules

Postpone and withhold your judgment of ideas

Encourage wild and exaggerated ideas Quantity counts at this stage, not quality Build on the ideas put forward by others Every person and every idea has equal worth

Mind mapping 1

Subject

Main ideas

Details

Mind mapping rules

Write the subject in the centre of page Draw a circle around it For main subheadings, draw lines out from circle Label lines with subheadings Draw new lines to each subheading for each new

idea. Add labels For individual facts, draw lines from appropriate

heading. Label them Convert the mind map into an outline

Main ideas become main headings Details become subheadings or individual points

Mind mapping

Problem

Volume

Quality

Transport

Situatio

n

Kin

na m

kt

ConflictIn

terv

entio

n

Coop Buyer

Results

IncomeCoop growth

Livestock marketing

Resources

www.brainstorming.co.uk www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_01

.htm

owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_block.html