Most people feel intimidated when it comes to writing. One of the biggest factors that can contribute to a dead-end idea is not being able to decide what to write about. If you can find an interesting topic, the flow of writing will be more stable and you are more likely to create good writing. Use a variety of strategies to think of something to write about so you can identify topics that suit your writing and learning style.
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Method 1 of 4: Selecting a Topic for an Academic Essay
Step 1. Understand the essay assignment
Understanding the assigned essay is the first step to thinking about the topic. Knowing what type of essay to expect, the length of the essay, and for what degree the research is required will determine the scope of the topic you will choose.
Step 2. Evaluate the purpose of the task
The purpose of the assignment will also determine the type of topic. For example, a persuasive essay will have a different type of topic than an essay about personal experience.
Look for main verbs such as compare, analyze, describe, unite, and differentiate. These words will help determine your teacher's desire for the essay you are about to write
Step 3. Choose a topic from the list provided
If your instructor has prepared a list of topics for you, choose a topic from the list. Most likely the topics were collected because they were of appropriate scope and breadth and the instructor found that they had produced good essays in the past.
- Try writing a thesis, or main argument, for each topic.
- Choose a topic that is easy for you to create a thesis on and that you feel can be developed in your writing easily.
Step 4. Ask if you can write about another topic
If you feel limited by the list of topics your instructor has provided, ask if you can write a different topic. It's a good idea to have a specific topic in mind when asking about alternatives.
Step 5. Think of some ideas
Write down the ideas that come to your mind into a list. The ideas don't have to be brilliant, but it's a good idea to keep them flowing. Just write down everything you can think of; You can evaluate the ideas later.
Step 6. Make free writing with a predetermined time
Decide in advance how long you want to write freely, then write without stopping.
- Most people write about 10-20 minutes.
- Don't stop writing, even if you should write "blah blah blah" in the middle of a sentence.
- Hopefully your writing will lead to useful thoughts or ideas during the freewriting process. While this may not provide content that can be used in an essay, freewriting can be an important warm-up.
Step 7. Create a visual representation of your ideas
Creating visual representations of your ideas will allow you to find or narrow them down to good topics, especially if you are a visual learner.
- Use a mind map or mind map. The center of this map consists of the main argument, or thesis, and other ideas that will take root in all directions.
- Draw an idea web or idea web. An idea web is a visual thing that uses words in circles that are connected to other words or ideas. Focusing on the relationship between ideas as well as the ideas themselves will help you think about a topic.
Step 8. Remember the teacher's main focus in the classroom
If you're writing an essay as a school assignment, think about what the teacher often says in class. This will be a good choice for writing an essay because your teacher will think that the topic of your essay is important.
- Review the lesson notes and see if anything seems interesting or important.
- Review the assignment paper or “focus” section of an assigned text.
Step 9. Think about what interests you
It's easier to write something you enjoy or interest you than forcing yourself to write a topic that looks boring. Make a list of interests and see if there is a way to link one of your interests to the essay.
Step 10. Consider the list you have created
Write some additional notes next to potential topics to write about and evaluate whether the idea would be a suitable topic. By now, you should be able to narrow your list down to a few good choices.
- You should ask the teacher when you have narrowed your ideas down to two or three topics. He or she will probably tell you which topics would make great ones.
- Look back at the original assignment and determine which topics that have been narrowed down would suit the purpose of the assigned essay.
Step 11. Limit the scope of your topic accordingly
Once you have defined a general topic, you must make sure that your specific topic or argument has appropriate scope.
- Too broad a focus will make your writing too long or it will turn into a bad argument because you haven't provided enough detail. For example, the topic “dogs” is too broad for an article.
- A focus that is too narrow or specific will be short-lived and will miss important arguments. For example, the topic “one-eyed poodle adoption rate in [city name]” is too narrow a topic to write about.
- An appropriate focus will give you enough space to write about the topic thoroughly. For example, “effect of selling puppies on mutt adoption rates in [country name]” might be a better topic.
Method 2 of 4: Choosing a Topic for Creative Writing
Step 1. Get to know your readers
The first step in coming up with ideas for any kind of writing is knowing your readers. Creative writing readers can determine the topic you will write about.
- Ask yourself what readers want to read.
- Think about what will surprise your readers.
- If you are not sure about your real reader, create a fictitious reader in your brain. You can even name the reader.
Step 2. Know what interests you
Writing about what interests you will help your writing flow more easily, allow you to write fresher content, and produce better end results.
Step 3. Write something in a freewriting style
What you write is not as important as writing it right away. Choose a situation that interests you: maybe someone who is lost in the desert, or maybe someone who doesn't know that he has an illness, or someone who is considering his decision to confess to someone. Then, write about the situation in a freehand style. Think about what will happen, what your character will think, the conversation he will have, and so on.
- Write non-stop for a certain amount of time (most people do about 10-15 minutes).
- Don't stop writing, even if you have to write "blah blah blah" in the middle of a sentence.
- Hopefully your writing will lead to useful thoughts or ideas during the freewriting process. While this may not provide content that can be used in an essay, freewriting can be an important warm-up.
Step 4. Read the writing guide
There are many books on how to write ideas for creative writing and some websites have lists of hints.
- Treat the guide as a starting point, but feel free to choose topics outside of the guide.
- Look for guidebooks at the nearest library so you don't have to buy them.
Step 5. Make a list of ideas
Provide a list of ideas for things to write about at any time. If you think of an idea, write it down. Look back over the list whenever you feel you need help thinking about a topic.
Step 6. Look around you
Your environment has a wide variety of objects to inspire. Look around and write down what you see.
- Close your eyes, open them again, and write about the first thing you saw, no matter what it was.
- Look at the color of an object near you, and write down other things that are the same color until you feel inspired.
- Look at objects near you and try to remember the last time you saw the same object. Who are you with? What are you doing at that time? Write a story, real or fictional, about the memory.
- Look for a unique object in your line of sight, then imagine that you are seeing it for the first time. Write about a person from a different culture who sees the object for the first time and thinks about its use.
Method 3 of 4: Choosing an Essay Topic for New Student Admission
Step 1. Read the instructions provided carefully
Find out if the school you are applying to uses the regular app. If so, make sure to choose one of the essay questions that are usually chosen for new student admissions. Most university application essay questions can fall into the following types of questions:
- Tell me about an event in your life that changed you. Be sure to answer questions like these with a specific, detailed narrative, followed by analysis. Connect with who you are in the moment, and be sure to add details about how that event might shape your future.
- Tell us about your plans to contribute to diversity in the student body. Remember that in this world there are all kinds of differences: race, gender identity, sexual orientation, and family history. If you are a first-generation student in your family, it will make a difference on campus. Look up student association statistics on university websites to see if there's a way for you to stand out.
- Tell me why you want to get into this university. Be specific and commendable, but try not to over-praise. Use the university's website to find a specific program that is unique at the university and makes you want to participate. Be sure to link your goals at university with your strengths.
Step 2. Rewrite the essay in your own words
This way will assure you that you really understand and understand what you have to do. If you have questions while you're doing this, ask your teacher, counseling teacher, or parent for a second opinion.
Step 3. Think carefully about the existing list of topics
Don't just pick a topic you're interested in in one read; think carefully about the topic.
- Narrow the list down to just a few choices that you feel would make for a good essay.
- Rewrite the list of ideas or draw a mind map for each selected topic.
Step 4. Choose a topic with which you have a strong connection
While there are many topics that you can make into a good essay, if you choose one that suits you, you are more likely to add a personal touch to your essay.
Step 5. Use the reverse approach
Instead of choosing an essayist first, try to write a list of accomplishments, traits, and stories that you want to include in your essay, then choose a topic that will make you shine as an applicant.
Step 6. Say something meaningful and unique
The key to writing a good university essay is to stand out and write something of value that can be offered to all students at the university.
- Avoid general topics or stories and try to really find what highlights you as an individual.
- Connect your strengths and goals to the answers to the essay questions, but be sure to answer those questions as well.
- Find out if there are any overused or clichéd experiences that won't look good on a university essay. An example of an overused topic is charity travel missions. Counseling teachers can help determine what topics have been used frequently.
Step 7. Show, don't say
This is a common mistake in admissions essays. You can rush to report all achievements to the admissions committee so that your essay looks more like a list. Use concrete examples of personal relevance to support all of your claims.
For example, don't just say "I have a strong leadership attitude." The sentence was just to let you know. Instead, use a formula like the following: “My experience in _ has developed a strong leadership attitude in me.” Then write about how you organized the sale of cakes for your Scout assignment or your position as group leader of Scouts (or whatever accomplishments are relevant to your claim)
Step 8. Read the university's website carefully
Determine what is important to the university (such as distinction, community service, or personal integrity) and emphasize that your qualities can indicate that you are a good fit for the university.
- Search the university's rector's page for a “strategic plan” for the coming years.
- Look at the university's vision and mission and try to incorporate this vision and mission into your personal values.
- Check the website for special programs or initiatives such as learning services, global leadership, or environmental conservation, and relate these ideas to your own.
Method 4 of 4: Choosing a Topic for a Blog
Step 1. Evaluate your passions and interests
Blogs can be a long-term writing project, so you have to be sure that you will still be interested in the topic of the blog in the months or even years to come.
Step 2. Choose a theme
Think of your blog as a theme. A theme is a broad set of ideas that includes one main idea.
- Thinking about the theme of the blog will help determine the appropriate topic coverage.
- Having a consistent theme for your blog will make your blog even better because your followers will continue to be interested in your writing.
Step 3. Make a list of ideas
As with creative writing, having a list of potential topics can provide room for ideas for you to choose from when you're ready to write. It's a good idea to write a few sentences next to a topic you can develop.
Step 4. Ask your readers
If you have subscribers (regular readers or subscribers) who read and comment on your blog, ask them what they would like you to write about. They can give you great ideas and you don't have to figure everything out on your own.
- Give your readers a list of topics and ask them to comment on which topics they would like to read about.
- Read the comments in the entry to see if any ideas are channeled indirectly there.
- If your blog is linked to a social media account, try asking social media platforms what you should blog about. This may not be as awkward as posting on a blog asking what to write next.
Step 5. Stay updated with other blogs
If you read other people's blogs regularly, chances are you'll still have ideas for something to write about while you're reading them. Write down in your book your collection of ideas.
- Be sure to include a link on the blog that inspired you to write a blog entry in order to properly credit the idea.
- Ask other blog writers to write guest posts on your page. This will spark some new ideas for both you and your readers.
Tips
- Try different methods to find out what works for your writing style.
- Don't hesitate to ask others for advice. Sometimes just talking about a topic with someone can help solidify your idea.
- Don't get frustrated and give up before starting. Using this strategy will help generate ideas.
