Assess the Situation

Whether your topic has been assigned to you or whether you have determined on your own the topic of your essay, the first thing you must do is assess the situation and think about how much you already know about the subject. If you need to know more about it before you start writing, develop a plan for finding the information you need, such as going to a library or talking to people who do know a lot about it. If you choose to use a library for more information, use the search capabilities. If you need help with this, see a librarian. Of course, if you have computer access, Google will provide you with an abundance of information about any topic you might choose. You will need to sort through what you find and try to focus on one aspect of your topic or you will find yourself spending a lot of time without getting anywhere.