426 Brainstorming
In this chapter you will learn:- how to use more of your own ideas through effective brainstorming;
- why it is important to separate analysis from brainstorming;
- how to get clear answers from the texts you use;
- how to avoid being dictated to by the authors you read.
Over the last five chapters we have seen how important it is to inter-
pret carefully the meaning and implications of questions. Learning to
do this well means we’re better able to see the structure our essays
should adopt in order to produce a full and relevant answer to the
question. What’s more, we’re less likely to overlook the significant,
though subtle, issues that might be hidden in the question. Almost
inevitably, when we overlook the importance of doing this well, we end
up with essays that not only are confusing and poorly organised, but
miss the point.
In this lies the importance of the three-step technique. It develops
those skills you need in order to use your analytical abilities effectively.
Once you’ve used it two or three times, you’ll be confident that you
can interpret any question whose meaning and implications depend
upon a perceptive analysis of its concepts. But, as we saw, there are
other reasons why these skills and abilities are so important. If we
overlook them we’re likely to disqualify ourselves from the highest
marks on offer. Examiners are likely to assume that we simply haven’t
developed that thoughtful, reflective ability to question the assump-
tions we make when we use language.HTW6 7/26/01 8:52 PM Page 42