Brainstorming: Clustering and Listing
Rock Valley College Writing Center
ERC 2402 815.921.3327
Brainstorming: Clustering and Listing
Jessica Henderson
Definition
Brainstorming is a technique used to inspire creative thinking and develop ideas.
In composition: brainstorming means to write down ideas freely.
Clustering is a brainstorming technique. It emphasizes associations among ideas.
Clustering is also called webbing or mapping.
Listing is another brainstorming technique. It is simply a list of ideas.
Application
The ultimate goal of brainstorming is success in exploring ideas for an essay or
project.
Examples & Strategies
1. Clustering (mapping/webbing)
Sister - lives
in Alaska,
bossy,
married
Mom thrifty,
athletic,
takes naps
Dad - funny, smart,
likes to garden,
makes his own
pizza, baseball fan,
squirrelly , likes red
wheelbarrows
Writing Center Handout
Page 2 of 2
Brainstorming.docx
2. Listing
Here is a list someone jotted down for an essay on cooking:
Cooking is fun.
Favorite things to cook: pizza, eggs, mince-meat pies (like grandma’s),
and spaghetti with clam sauce
Easiest food to make: toast (or cheddar cheese sandwich)
Best experience cooking: when my friend and I made eggrolls at her
mom’s in Chicago
Messiest food to cook: pancakes