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Organizing Details

Gather strange, beautiful, and colorful ideas just like flowers. Then organize them in a pretty bunch.

• Make a list. Write a topic at the top of on a page. Underneath, list whatever ideas come to mind. Then reorganize your ideas, putting details in the best order.

• Ask yourself the 5 W’s. Ask Who? What? When? Where? and Why? about your topic. Answer these questions.
• Create a mind map. Write your big idea in the middle of a page. All around it, write other ideas, connecting them to the big idea. Then focus on one of your new thoughts and connect more details around it. A cluster, or mind map, is a picture of what you think. (See page 288 for a cluster.)
• Fill out a collection sheet. Pour your thoughts into the boxes in a collection sheet or gathering grid. You’ll be amazed at all your ideas! (See page 162 for a sample grid.)