Part 2

Topic Selection

The topic of any essay is key. It will determine where and how the content is perceived and how it is indexed. For a student about to produce an essay, a topic can be assigned by an instructor, or sometimes students are given the freedom to choose and develop their own topic. In both cases, the process is the same.

Assigned Topics

When the topic of an essay is given, unless it is very specific, there can be many approaches to cover within the realm of that topic. If there is some leeway for movement or variation within the topic, this can be a great opportunity.

For example – If a topic is “Causes of World War I”, there would be many avenues to choose from. They could range from the causes in each of the countries involved, to the perspective of economical, political or social influences. Each of these would be an specific enough topic to develop an essay.

Ideally, the assignment will dictate whether the essay is to be a general overview or a more specific analysis of the topic. A topic that is too general can be overwhelming, as the broadness of the material available for the topic can be immense. A narrower topic is much easier. Here’s another example.

A topic such as “Brazil” would be a suitable general one if the intent is to provide an overview essay. But for a more specific analysis, a smaller topic such as “Brazil’s Political Changes”, or “Brazilian Fashion Trends” would be much easier to work with, and likely more appealing as a discussion in your essay.

In either case, teachers, professors and tutors are often open to more innovative topics, so always try to initiate the opportunity to explore a subtopic with their approval.

Topics Not Assigned

Having the freedom to write about anything is wonderful… but perhaps a little overwhelming. It can actually preventing you from starting the work when a topic has not been determined.

The greatest advantage of having freedom in choosing a topic is that you can write about something you have expertise in, have experiences, are familiar with or just have a genuine interest in learning more about. Sometimes a topic can come from a previous assignment where another avenue presented itself, but you were not able to explore that as you wrote about the topic at hand.

To find a topic, it may be beneficial to begin with a list of topics or subjects that interest you. Within these headings, you may also find sub topics or other avenues of thought or arguments.

Still stuck? Look at your environment – home, school, work, family, outdoors, hobbies, the news, opinions or viewpoints you have… and never let go of this list. Return to it whenever you are stuck.

When something suitable strikes you, consider it carefully. Evaluate and question how you feel about the topic and how it relates (or doesn’t relate) to the purpose of the essay you need to write.

Is the essay an argument, with valid points that will persuade people in a particular direction?

Is it about explaining something or instructing how to do something?

Is it an exposition about something that happened or a person or place of interest?

Or is it about a brand new theory or idea?

Choose a topic that fits the essay you can write.

When you decide on a topic that is intended to educate, be sure you are well informed and able to conduct the necessary research to thoroughly explore the topic.

Be passionate – The key to a strong essay that expresses an opinion or argument is that it is apparent the author feels strongly about what they are expressing and the points they are making. If you truly have conviction, it will show in the phrasing you use in your writing.

Surprise yourself – If none of your topics from your idea list seem to be suitable, push yourself. Try investigating a few to see what you can learn on the surface, and it is likely something will emerge that is worth writing about. Follow your instincts. A topic may surprise you once you get started.