Think about Writing Ideas

As you learn more about your topic, make notes. Look at your notes and single out those aspects of this topic that appeal to you. Remember that you want to be able to write something worthwhile and interesting about your topic. You may come up with three or four ideas, which is good. Now look at those three or four ideas and single out one that will become the topic for your essay. If you find a great amount of information on your topic, rein it in. The most difficult thing to deal with is an overabundance of material.

If your topic is climate warming, for example, some possible ideas are

• The effects of burning carbon fuel on the environment
• Results of climate warning
• Reliability of the science
• Reducing climate warming

Be sure to make notes on your sources as you go and keep track of their location. You will need to show where you got your information.