Fatemeh Mirzapour - Department of English and Foreign Languages,Sofian Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
Sonia Valizadeh - Department of English and Foreign Languages,Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran

The present study aimed at investigating the effect of brainstorming techniques, clustering and note taking on EFL learners’ writing performance. To this end, ۵۴ Iranian EFL intermediate learners were invited to participate at this study. The sample was distributed into three classes. Two classes A and B, represent the experimental groups totaling thirty students taught through brainstorming strategies, clustering and note taking and classes C represented the control group with ۱۴ students. Their performance on the pre-test and post-test in both experimental and control groups were compared. As data analysis indicated, the experimental groups’ performance on the post-test was considerably higher than their performance on the pre-test. The result of the study revealed that the students who were taught clustering technique had better writing ability than those who were taught using note taking technique. In other word, the use of clustering technique is more effective than note taking. Finally the research findings imply that the use of clustering technique can affect the students’ writing competence optimally

brainstorming strategies, note taking, clustering, writing skill