Basics of Creativity:

Discovering Ideas

Plan of the sessionPlan of the session

Define creativityDefine creativityShow difference between Show difference between creative and formal thinkingcreative and formal thinkingExplain 4 recipes and some Explain 4 recipes and some models for discovering ideasmodels for discovering ideas

a Objectives Clarify, Define

Define: SMCRFSET, …

about b

Step “c”

d Intro Body Conclusion

Organized d & e

Against a & b

Expand checked f

b Systemic Approach

c Collect information

d Outline

e Organizef Check

g Write

h Check, Revise, Edit, Improve

The Process of W

riting

a Objectives Clarify, Define

Define: SMCRFSET, …

About: Message, Readers, Environment, …Use Discovering Ideas:

BrainstormingQ’sPentadGridModels

Break thesis statements into Topic Statements

b Systemic Approach

c Collect information

PDCI

What is Creativity?What is Creativity?An Ability to imagineAn Ability to imagineAn Attitude,An Attitude, tolerance towards tolerance towards the newthe newThe habit of improving ideas as The habit of improving ideas as being usedbeing used

Formal ThinkingFormal Thinkingvs.vs.

Creative ThinkingCreative Thinking

Both kinds of thinking Both kinds of thinking are interdependent are interdependent and complementaryand complementary

Formal Formal Thinking (A)Thinking (A)AnalyticalAnalyticalConvergentConvergentLinearLinearFocusedFocusedObjectiveObjectiveVerbalVerbal

Creative Creative Thinking (B)Thinking (B)GenerativeGenerativeDivergentDivergentAll directionsAll directionsDiffuseDiffuseSubjectiveSubjectiveDiversifiedDiversified

Creativity is not inheritedCreativity is not inheritedCreativity can be taughtCreativity can be taughtInnovation is measurable:Innovation is measurable:

Revenue from new Revenue from new products? Patentsproducts? Patents

Tools for CreativityTools for Creativity1. Brainstorming1. Brainstorming

Designed to obtain maximum Designed to obtain maximum number of ideasnumber of ideas

Suspend judgmentThink freelyImprove, modify, build on others ideasQuantity of ideas is important

Putting BrainstormingPutting Brainstormingin Practicein Practice

Record and expose ideasRecord and expose ideasLimit the time of the processLimit the time of the processUse 80/20 ruleUse 80/20 rule

The Pareto principle (also known as the 80–20 rule, the law of the vital few) states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes

2. Asking Questions2. Asking QuestionsWhere? When? Why?Where? When? Why?What? Who? For what?What? Who? For what?To where? For whom? To where? For whom? What have others done?What have others done?Where to find an idea?Where to find an idea?What ideas can I modify?What ideas can I modify?

3. The Pentad3. The PentadAction or eventAction or eventSubject (doer)Subject (doer)SceneSceneAgent (the means)Agent (the means)Relationships between all (Apply Relationships between all (Apply System Thinking to find System Thinking to find relationships between all relationships between all elements)elements)

4. The Grid4. The Gridfor things, objects, itemsfor things, objects, items

System or SubsystemSystem or SubsystemCriterionCriterion StaticStatic DynaDynamicmicContrastContrastContextContext

Other ModelsOther Modelsfor Enhancing for Enhancing

Mental/Thinking Mental/Thinking ActivitiesActivities

System Thinking: A SystemSystem Thinking: A System

A wholeA whole having having componentscomponents, or , or

componentscomponents forming forming a a wholewhole..

System Thinking (ContSystem Thinking (Cont’’d)d)Systems thinking is the process of understanding how things, regarded as systems, influence one another within a wholeApproach to problem solving, – View "problems" as parts of an overall system, rather

than reacting to specific parts– Systems thinking focuses on cyclical rather than

linear cause and effect.

Applications: problem solving, Applications: problem solving, brainstorming, to enhance memorybrainstorming, to enhance memory

System View of Training System

Fulfillmentof

mission

Trainee

Trainer

Venue Materials

Topics1

23

45

Systemic ThinkingSystemic ThinkingSystemic thinking is different from both systematic thinking and systems thinking

A simple technique for finding system wide

focus (look for patterns)

Thinking about how things interact with

one another

Thinking methodically

Systemic Thinking

Systems Thinking Systematic Thinking

Systemic Thinking (ContSystemic Thinking (Cont’’d)d)

The systemic thinking process is straight forward:– List as many elements as possible, then– look for similarities (common-themes & patterns)

between them– Group the elements into sub themes– Find the central theme (the common theme across

the subthemes)[Ref] SYSTEMIC THINKING: a simple thinking technique for gaining systemic (situation-wide) focus by GARY BARTLETT

Applying Systemic Thinking to Applying Systemic Thinking to Technical WritingTechnical Writing

list all the pieces of data you can think of under each section look for themes (patterns) across themUse the central theme as the main point of the section

The Communication SystemThe Communication System

Sender

Receiver

Message

Channel

Performance

Boun

darie

s

Objective, Size, VObjective, Size, V--Aids,Aids,Environment, Time, Duration, VenueEnvironment, Time, Duration, Venue

Other Modelsfor Enhancing Mental/Thinking Activities

The Communication ModelThe Communication Model

Introduction

Summary

Body

Conclusion

Title

Th

esis

Sta

tem

ent

Ways of ThinkingWays of Thinking

Linear 1, 2, Linear 1, 2, ……LateralLateral

CyclicCyclic

SystemicSystemic1 2

4 3

Syst

emat

ic

one

way

th

inki

ng

Two-

way

thin

king

TS TS is a short general is a short general statement:statement:

TTopicopic + + CComment.omment.

SmokingSmoking is dangerousis dangerous..

systemicWays To Develop TSWays To Develop TS

Linear

cyclicGeneral-to-specificSpecific-to-general

ConvergentChronological, processListing, cause-to-effectDefinition, exemplificationComparison-contrastMixture of these

♣ What about ways-to-begin?

TwentyTwenty--Four (24) Ways To BeginFour (24) Ways To BeginAction/ProcessAction/Process QuestionQuestionAdviceAdvice QuotationQuotationBackgroundBackground RefuteRefute--anan--argumentargumentCall for actionCall for action Statement of scopeStatement of scopeCommand/RequestCommand/Request Specific detailsSpecific detailsComparison/ContrastComparison/Contrast Statement of a factStatement of a factDefinition/ClassificationDefinition/Classification An important pointAn important pointEarly theory/techniqueEarly theory/technique Plan of developmentPlan of developmentForecast and hypothesisForecast and hypothesis Statement of purposeStatement of purposeIllustration/exemplificationIllustration/exemplification Statement of the problemStatement of the problemListingListing SummarySummaryPoint of viewPoint of view CombinationCombination

Effective ArgumentsEffective ArgumentsArguments try to present information in a way that persuades an audience to act or believe accordingly In academic writing, an argument is usually a main idea, often called a “claim” or “thesis statement,” backed up with evidence that supports the idea Types of arguments: – Arguments of fact – Arguments of policy

Effective ArgumentsEffective ArgumentsArgument of Fact:Argument of Fact: attempt to answer questions of attempt to answer questions of

existence, definition, or qualityexistence, definition, or quality:Air in Greater Cairo Air in Greater Cairo has become very pollutedhas become very polluted..

1.1. Sub argument of Sub argument of definitiondefinitionAir becomes polluted Air becomes polluted when it has more than when it has more than ……, and , and ……..

These proportions are defined by These proportions are defined by ……..

2.2. Sub argument of Sub argument of existenceexistenceAir in Greater Cairo Air in Greater Cairo has exceeded these limits. has exceeded these limits. ……, , ……..3.3. Sub argument of qualitySub argument of qualityIf there are no measures to stop the process, If there are no measures to stop the process, the the

situation shall become dangerous for situation shall become dangerous for ……..

Effective ArgumentsEffective ArgumentsArgument of Policy:Argument of Policy: build on arguments of fact build on arguments of fact to answer the question, "What should be done?"to answer the question, "What should be done?"

Air in Greater Cairo has reached serious proportions.Air in Greater Cairo has reached serious proportions.Authorities must react before the situation becomes dreadful.Authorities must react before the situation becomes dreadful.1, 2, 3 Sub argument of fact 1, 2, 3 Sub argument of fact ++4. Sub argument of goodness4. Sub argument of goodnessA cleaner Greater Cairo should enhance A cleaner Greater Cairo should enhance EgyptEgypt’’s image s image ……++

5. Sub argument of usefulness5. Sub argument of usefulnessThose who initiate such a commendable Those who initiate such a commendable process shall be praised fore ever.process shall be praised fore ever.