Getting ideas by asking yourself questions and making definitions

This is based on a paper I handed out to my Essay Writing class, when students had trouble figuring out how to develop their ideas. I hope it helps.

-------------

First, if you are ever not sure what to write, ask yourself questions.  (Who, what, where, when, why, how)

Why should I do that? 

Because it helps you explain your thinking and gives you an easy way forward. 

Why do I need to explain my thinking? 

Because your reader does not live in your head--sometimes things that seem clear to you are difficult to understand when you do not explain them.

Why does it give an easy way forward?

 Because it helps give your writing a clear direction. After you ask the question, you need to answer it. You know it, and the reader will also know it (this makes it easy to follow). Question-and-answer form is a very coherent form of writing. 

One way to use questions to direct an essay is through DEFINITION. Try starting your thinking with a definition. Then you can look at whether something fits the definition or not. Sometimes it's very difficult to create a perfect definition. Here's a playful example

What is a tuk-tuk? 

A Tuk-tuk is a 3-wheeled vehicle for transporting people.

 Once you have a definition for a concept or thing, then you can prove whether a specific thing fits the definition or not.

Is this a Tuk-Tuk?

(from India)

Yes, because it has 3 wheels, a small engine, and is transporting people.

Sometimes you need to revise your definition, when you notice something that should fit, but is not included in your definition.

Is this NOT a tuk-tuk?

(from Cambodia)

This is definitely a tuk-tuk. It uses a motorcycle engine, and is meant to transport people. But it has 4 wheels, so we should maybe change our definition.

What is a tuk-tuk? 

We can say that a Tuk-tuk is a 3 or 4-wheeled vehicle for transporting people.

Okay, what about this? It has 4 wheels, and seems to be used to transport people...

Hmmn. It looks like we'll need to change our definition again.

Okay. "A tuk-tuk is a 3 or 4 wheeled vehicle with a motorcycle-style front end, and is used to transport people."

Hmmn. This could be more difficult than I thought...How about:

"A tuk-tuk is a 3 or 4 wheeled vehicle with a motorcycle-style front end and at least one bench seat meant for transporting passengers."

Anyway, I thought this would be a fun exercise in definition. What do you think?