In-class activity. Steve Burger. Adopted from Elbow.
Overview: Freewriting is a simple but powerful writing technique: you write continuously without stopping, editing, or worrying about spelling, grammar, or organization. The goal is to get words onto the page and keep your thoughts moving. If you get stuck, write about being stuck or anything else that comes to mind. Freewriting can spark new ideas, reveal honest insights, and lead to unexpected directions in your thinking.
Uses: Freewriting works well for brainstorming at the start of a project, breaking through writer’s block, or exploring a tricky idea. It helps generate ideas, make connections, and respond personally to a topic, reading, or question. It’s especially useful when students need to loosen up, explore a concept before drafting, or get unstuck after struggling to begin or continue writing.
How do I use it in class? Ask students to start with a prompt—such as a question, concept, or passage—and write nonstop for 5–10 minutes. Emphasize that grammar, structure, and polish don’t matter. Encourage them to keep going even if they feel blank (e.g., “I don’t know what to say…”). Afterward, they can highlight key phrases or surprising ideas and use those to spark a second “looped” freewrite: write a new prompt from what they highlighted and write again for 5–10 minutes. You can use freewrites as private exploration, to launch discussion, or to prepare for a larger assignment.
Peter Elbow. (1973). Writing Without Teachers. Oxford University Press.