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Selecting and Organizing Information (Brainstorming)

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Nowadays, we are bombarded with

different kinds of information from books,


newspapers, magazines, and of course, the
Internet. Going through this amount of
information is not the only challenge; we also
have to come up with effective ways of
processing them. Hence, one important
ingredient to successful reading and writing
is our ability to generate, select, and organize
ideas. These can be done through
Read the following situation.
Patrick’s class was tasked with the opening
presentation during their school’s Foundation Day.
The school has already decided on a theme, and the
class was simply required to decide its own concept
for the performance. Although Patrick facilitated the
discussion, all of his classmates were involved
because they all shared their own ideas. After
everyone has contributed an idea, they evaluated the
What Patrick’s group did is called brainstorming. It is perhaps
the most popular tool in generating creative and rich ideas. It helps
people establish patterns of ideas, develop new ways of thinking,
activate background knowledge, and overcome mental block.
While brainstorming is commonly thought of as group
activity, it can also be done individually. In fact, some studies show
that individual brainstorming produces more ideas. This is
partially so because in group brainstorming, people focus too
much on other people’s ideas that they are unable to generate
ideas of their own.
However, group brainstorming might be a better option in
solving more complicated problems because it produces ideas that
are wider in range and greater in depth. This is largely attributed
to the fact that the experiences and knowledge of each group
You can brainstorm effectively either by creating
an idea list or by making an idea map.
1. Creating an idea list simply involves listing ideas
about a particular topic. It also help you find the
main idea and supporting details from the numerous
ideas listed.
How to make an idea list. This strategy is especially
appropriate to textual people, or those who are more
comfortable in processing words than visuals. It simple
requires you to write the main topic and then write
down all related concepts below it. Here is an example
Topic-Unemployment
1. Jobs
2. Poverty
3. Salary
4. Lack of education
5. Lack of jobs
6. Low salary
7. Lack of money
8. Fresh graduates
Another brainstorming method is making an
idea map. It is a visual representation of ideas and
their connections with one another. Unlike the
idea list, an idea map is more structured; thus, it
is able to show how one idea subordinates
another idea.
How to make an idea map. Put the big or
question at the center. Then, add a related idea by
writing it down in a circle near the big idea, and
drawing a line between the two to show how the
ideas are connected. Continue the process of
In general, remember to define the problem or the
issue that needs to be solved. If you are going to
brainstorm on your own, make sure to choose a
comfortable place and minimize distractions. Try using
images to stimulate your mind. For group brainstorming,
make sure to create a fun atmosphere all throughout the
activity. If the members are not used to working together,
open with a warm-up exercise or an ice-breaker. Assign a
facilitator who will lead the discussion, but give every
member an equal opportunity to contribute. Make sure not
to criticize during brainstorming, so as to create a free and
open environment. To gain different perspectives, try to
vary your standpoints. Do not forget to rake short breaks
Graphic organizers are visual representations of
concepts that help us structure information into
organizational patterns. They present essential
information and connect these pieces of information into
a coherent framework.
They are helpful tools for brainstorming, facilitating
reading and writing, promoting active learning, and
accessing previous knowledge and experiences. Through
graphic organizers, you can focus your attention on key
elements and help you integrate new knowledge into your
1. Venn Diagram- is used to compare and contrast ideas
and events. This diagram uses two or more overlapping
circles to show similar and different attributes.
Fill in the missing data in the following Venn diagram
which scientifically compares a butterfly and a moth. Use
critical thinking and select only relevant information based
on the topic from the following list.
Has 3 pairs of legs hatches from chrysalis
Hatches from cocoons looks pretty
Featured in Rizal’s story has wings
2. Network Tree- is used to represent hierarchy,
classification, and branching. It is useful in showing
relationships of scientific categories, family trees, and
even lineages.
3. Spider Map (also known as semantic map)- is used to
investigate and enumerate various aspects of a central
idea, which could be a concept, topic, or theme. This
central idea is placed at the center of the map. The
main idea is placed along its diagonal line, while details
of the main idea are placed on the sides of the
3. Problem-Solution Map- displays the nature of the
problem and how it can be solved. This map usually
contains the problem’s description, its causes and
effects and logical solutions.
4. Timeline- is used to show how events occurred
chronologically through a long bar labeled with dates
and specific events. Timelines can be linear or
comparative. A linear timeline shows how events
happened with one period while a comparative
timeline shows two sets of events that happened

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