Perhaps one of the most difficult tasks any writer has is choosing a topic to write about. Whether you are writing a personal essay or a scientific report, it’s important to start by reading the assignment carefully. Once you know what the instructor is looking for, you can begin to play with various topic ideas.
Start With What You Know
Don’t try to tackle a topic you know nothing about. Begin with a subject you have an interest in or want to learn more about. On the other hand, don’t choose a topic in which you feel you are already an expert.
Writing should be a process of inquiry. An essay written by someone who already knows everything before he even starts writing will be boring and uninspired. You should approach a paper topic with a sense of examination. You are exploring the topic as you write. This makes for an appealing essay that will interest both you and your readers.
Brainstorming
This can also be called a “brain dump.” Write down a long list of topics that you might like to write about. Don’t censor yourself, and don’t make any judgments as you go along. You can write absolutely anything you can think of. At this point, nothing is off limits. Actually write your list on a piece of paper. Thinking about topics will not work because you will get distracted and your mind will wander.
Asking Questions
Choose a few topics from your brainstorm list and create a list of questions about your topics. What do you want to know about them? What are you curious about? Approach each potential topic with an inquisitive mind. Pretend you are a 6-year-old who has a sense of wonder about the world. Ask why. How come? What does it all mean?
Freewriting
At this point, you should have a couple of topics that you definitely want to know more about. Choose one or two of these topics and do a five-minute freewrite on each of them.
This technique is also called fastwriting, and it’s a great way to get your thoughts on paper. Freewriting, as the name implies, is writing without thinking. You just put your pen to paper and start writing about anything that comes to mind. Don’t worry about spelling or punctuation, don’t censor yourself, and don’t stop writing until the time is up. If you go off topic, don’t worry about it. Just go where your mind takes you. This can be an exhilarating experience.
Narrowing Your Topic
Once you have done a sufficient “brain dump” of your thoughts and ideas, it’s time to choose a topic. Look over your brainstorm list, your list of questions, and your freewriting exercises. Choose the topic that you find most interesting and one that fits best with your assignment. Once you’ve made your decision, it’s time to narrow the topic to a workable level.
If you chose “global warming,” for instance, you probably can’t tackle that subject in a five-page essay. Narrow down the topic to “recycling on campus” or “going ‘green’ on a budget.” The better job you do with narrowing your topic, the easier it will be to research and draft a well-written essay.
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