Which instructional method helps students generate ideas before writing?

The method that aids students in generating ideas before writing is brainstorming. This technique involves encouraging students to think freely and express their thoughts without judgment, which helps stimulate creativity and uncover a range of ideas related to a specific topic. In this collaborative or individual process, students can jot down as many ideas as possible, which can later be organized and refined for their writing tasks.

Unlike drafting, which focuses on putting ideas into a structured format, brainstorming is about idea generation and exploration. Editing, on the other hand, pertains to refining and correcting a written piece after it has been drafted, while publishing is the final stage of sharing completed work with an audience. Therefore, brainstorming is distinctly designed to facilitate the initial creative process necessary for effective writing.