Read the following excerpt from Peter Elbow’s Writing Without Teachers (1973). After reading, set a timer for 5-10 minutes and try to freewrite as Elbow describes it. Use a pen and paper, not a word processor (this will let you write a little slower, emphasize, underline, scribble, not be bothered by autocorrect etc). Don’t stop for anything. Don’t put down your pen until the timer goes off. To make it easier to get started, try responding to this question: “Who are you?”

Once the timer goes off and you have completed your freewrite, take a minute to read it over. Where do you repeat yourself, change topics, ask questions, babble etc. In other words, what are some things you notice about your writing. Did you write any answers to the question of “who are you?” that perhaps you didn’t expect?

After reading it over, post a paragraph summary of the freewrite here. This summary allows you to share the parts of your freewrite you think are interesting and keep private the parts that are personal. After the summary paragraph, include a paragraph of reflection. How did this exercise work out for you? Did you find it difficult? Interesting? Entertaining? Frustrating? Most importantly: do you think this freewriting method could help lead you to topics worth researching later on in this class?