When freewriting, it is important that the student continue writing, without stopping to reflect upon any idea. Reflection and concentration upon ideas elicited in freewriting can come later, as a part of brainstorming. Brainstorming is one of the most common strategies and can apply to many topics. Be sure you have the student carry it beyond list-making on to grouping, finding subtopics, and ordering. Stress that the ideas and order found in brainstorming should not be slavishly followed while drafting.
Item analysis is often helpful for broad or complex topics.
Clustering is a form of brainstorming that groups ideas as they are listed. Students who are visually oriented might prefer this strategy to others. When a session focuses on prewriting, try to send the student away with one or two concrete ideas for the paper. Also, you might suggest a return trip to go over a rough draft. Writers in this stage explore, through actual writing, the message they wish to convey.