The Looping Technique

By

Johnie H. Scott, M.A., M.F.A.

Associate Professor of Pan African Studies

California State University, Northridge

Background:

In writing, we have three primary stages: the creating stage wherein ideas are first generated and/or tossed around, the shaping stage in which those ideas are fashioned into outline and then rough draft (i.e., first draft) form, and finally the completing stage in which the polishing and/or editing takes place so that we emerge with the finished product. Each of these distinctly separate stages of writing is a task unto itself. This movement or process-oriented approach back and forth between the three stages as you go from generating ideas and notes to outlining and preparing that rough draft onto editing and then finalizing a polished draft is known as being recursive (i.e., the movement among the stages of writing).

It is within the first stage – Creating – that the experienced, disciplined writer is able to rise above those annoying distractions and obstacles brought on by writer’s block which so often will stymie the young, inexperienced student writer. This is because the disciplined writer is aware of and has mastered the repertoire of various creating techniques available. Those techniques are found under three distinct categories dependent upon the nature of the writing task: (1) the Simple techniques that include, among others, free writing, brainstorming, clustering, mapping, listing, chaining and the Reporter’s Formula; (2) the Expanded techniques which include looping, cubing, track-switching and Classical Invention; and (3) the Enhanced techniques of Reading and Research (i.e., R&R) and Noticing Inside Purpose. For a more in-depth discussion of these techniques, consult Elizabeth Cowan-Neeld’s excellent Writing (Scott, Foresman and Company). For many, knowledge of these techniques ended in that Senior Composition course during high school where the instructors covered one or more of the simple creating techniques. Those in AP courses may have been given the majority of the simple techniques. In either instance, none of the expanded or enhanced techniques were presented to the student.

As you progress in writing skill and ability – more a matter of simply moving on to college and Freshman Composition -- you are next exposed to the second or expanded techniques of creating. There are four (4) of these as mentioned earlier. Each of the four is as different from the other as they are more detailed and involved than those found under the simple category of generating ideas. We will concern ourselves in this instance with the first of those expanded techniques: looping.

Description:

For those familiar with maintaining journals (or what has been referred to in some quarters as “learning logs”), I have a definitive method in preparing the entries. That method involves, first of all, listing the topic that is to be explored. The writer then writes nonstop for a period of at least ten (10) minutes. During that time, all mental processes are focused on generating ideas related to the subject. Once time is up, the writer skips a line and writes the following phrase: “Center of Gravity.”

This “Center of Gravity” is a single, complete sentence containing a subject and a verb. It is never a fragment, deliberate or otherwise. This “Center of Gravity” sentence is only written after the writer has reread the actual journal entry and decided upon what it is that stands out as the main idea or major point that emerged during the writing. That main idea or point becomes the actual “Center of Gravity” sentence and anyone reading this particular sentence should be able to grasp the core theme of the journal entry.

Ex.

Subject: “Reflections on The Color Purple”

Center of Gravity: The Color Purple presents one of the strongest images of African-American women in world literature with the character named Celie.

When one prepares to do the Looping Technique, once again the subject or topic is listed first of all. This may be the title of a poem, short story, book, television program, play, motion picture, or person. It might be a theme or question (e.g., “What Was the Last Book I Read Strictly for Pleasure?”). After listing the subject, you then write “Loop #1” and proceed by writing nonstop for no less than three minutes and no more than five minutes. While writing, you do not pause for any distractions. You do not look up to the heavens for any muse-like inspiration. One simply starts generating the ideas, thoughts and associations entering the mind that have been generated by the topic.

While writing, you do not concern yourself with spelling, grammar or mechanics: nothing that will interrupt the flow of thought and creativity. Those are concerns that only become important later with the actual writing of the composition. At the end of the 3-5 minute time period, you stop. Skipping a line, one then writes the phrase “Center of Gravity Sentence #1.” This, too, is a single complete sentence containing a subject and verb that extrapolates the main idea or point represented in that loop. Up until this point, excepting the time involved (i.e., 3-5 minutes rather than 10 minutes), you have prepared a miniaturized version of the technique used in journal writing.

With Looping, however, the practice is to generate not one, but three such entries. For the second loop – identified as Loop #2 immediately after that first Center of Gravity (COG) sentence – the subject, in fact, is that COG#1. The process is repeated, writing nonstop for 3-5 minutes as you expand upon the ideas contained in that COG#1. Once time has elapsed, you again skip a line and write “Center of Gravity #2.” While writing this second loop, do not concern yourself with distractions, with spelling or grammar (please note, though, that as you master this technique your attention and focus will naturally show itself in good spelling and complete sentences).

Now that you have this COG#2, you write “Loop #3” and repeat the process used for the first two lops. The difference this time, however, is that there is no minimum length of time in writing. Rather, you write for a full five (5) minutes with the subject of Loop #3 being that COG#2. Just as you did with the first two loops, do not concern yourself with spelling or sentence structure. Do not pause or stop for distractions. Focus all thoughts, all mental energies, on developing those ideas that come from thinking about this particularly COG#2. At the end of those five minutes, skip a line and write out the phrase “Center of Gravity #3.” This third and final gravity sentence will contain the main idea found in that third loop. Having done this you will, as have many other writers before you, be close to looking at the thought which will become the thesis or theme for your rough draft in that second, shaping stage of writing.

Horus, the All-Seeing Eye