CUBING: An Exercise in Perspective

A Prewriting Activity

I.  What is Cubing?

Cubing is a writing exercise used as a prewriting/writing technique. Cubing allows a writer to explore various aspects of a topic, forcing a writer to think and re-think a topic. We all know that a cube has six sides. If you had to describe that cube, you would try to discuss all the sides of the object. Of course, you would have to change your perspective in order to examine and write about the cube's six faces. This exercise challenges you to examine various perspectives of an object or idea.

The term “cubing” is a metaphor: the six writings are like the six faces of a clear cube containing your topic. Looking through a different face of the cube lets you a glimpse what you're writing about from a new angle. Cubing is a great way to explore your topic after you've done your preliminary research. It opens things out, preventing premature closure, and it can help you discover things you haven't yet thought of. Of course, not each of the six writings will strike pay dirt. Like any prewriting or writing activity, cubing is exploration and it comes with no guarantees.

Remember: in cubing, we are interested in more abstract perspectives.

II. Teacher Directions:

  1. Select a topic, idea, notion, performance task, etc. to explore through writing.
  2. In order to create a “visual” example, construct or create a cube. This can be as larger or as small as you desire
  3. Place the cubing “domains” on each of the six sides: describe, compare, associate, analyze, apply, and argue for or against it.
  4. If not already familiar with the technique, explain “focused free writing” to your students (that is, writing without stopping--normally this will be 2-4 min. for each side of the cube.)
  5. Move fast. Spend no more than 4 minutes on each side.
  6. Present the following sides of the cube to the students as they work through the exercise, exploring the topic. Note: be prepared to explain/provide examples for each side of the cube.

·  Describe it.

·  Compare it with something else

·  Associate it with something else

·  Analyze it.

·  Apply it—how can it be used?

·  Argue for or against it.