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Quickwriting: a technique for invention in writing
George Jacobs is a lecturer in the English Department, Faculty of Humanities, at Chiang Mai University in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He has also taught in Beijing, China and in the USA in Honolulu and Chicago. He has an MA in Linguistics with a specialization in TESOL from the University of Illinois-Chicago.
This article recommends the introduction of ‘quickwriting’, an invention technique, to second-language learners. Quickwriting has three features: concentrating on content, not worrying about form, and writing without stopping. It is a good way to help students develop ideas, and words to express ideas, by separating the creating stage of writing from the editing stage. Other possible advantages of quickwriting are in generating writing quantity, thinking in the target language, developing the ability to write under pressure of time, warming up for other writing, and understanding the need to edit The article describes how quickwriting can be demonstrated to students, suggests ground rules for the technique, and mentions ways in which it can be integrated into writing classes. Although quickwriting has limitations, it can help students with their writing and may even aid teachers with theirs.