Choosing Essay Topics

Thinking about Topics

During my first semester teaching English 1301 to students, I received some of the following essay topics:

How to give a dog a bathHow to wash your carHow to put gas in your car

What’s the problem with these topics?

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Car Wash Example

Let’s take the essay on how to wash a car. At one point in the essay the writer said:

“Don’t point the water hose toward your eye. You might hurt yourself.”

Is this good advice? If you read this statement in a magazine article, how would you react?

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TIP #1: TOPICS SHOULD BE “COLLEGE-LEVEL”

TIP #2: TOPICS SHOULD BE NARROW AND SPECIFIC

TIP #3: “SO WHAT?”

TIP #4: WATCH FOR EMOTIONALLY-CHARGED TOPICS

A Few Tips When Choosing Essay Topics

TIP #1: Topics should be “College-Level”

When I use the phrase “college-level,” I mean that your paper should strive to provide the reader with NEW information.

How might the author of the car wash essay make his paper “college-level?”

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Tip #2: Topics should be Narrow and Specific

Writers who choose specific, narrow topics are less likely to fall into shallow, inadequate discussion.

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Universe Example

Once I had a student who insisted she be allowed to write her 3-5 page paper on “the universe.”

What problems might she run into as she writes? Why is her topic unsuitable?

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Weight Loss Example

Another student asked if he might write his paper on “weight loss.”

What about this topic? Can it be accomplished completely in 3-5 pages?

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How to Narrow a Topic

Let’s say I’d like to write my paper on one of my interests, the American Revolutionary War.

This topic is too large and should be narrowed:

The American Revolution The Boston Tea Party John Hancock’s contribution to the Boston Tea Party

NOTE: Narrow topics are the reason for the long titles you see so often in scholarly books and articles!

Your Turn!

How might you narrow the following topics?

Music

Great TV shows

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Some Possible Answers

Music Rock The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Why the Red Hot Chili Peppers Should Receive a Lifetime Achievement Award

Great TV shows sitcoms How I Met Your Mother “Barney” (one character) How the Comedic Timing of Neil Patrick Harris Contributes to the Success of How I Met Your Mother

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How to Know if You’ve Narrowed Enough

Your topic is specific enough if you feel you can:

Provide your reader with a developed discussion

Provide your reader with a complete discussion

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Tip #3: “So What?”

After you’ve picked a topic, ask yourself “so what?” Why should the reader care about your topic?

If you can’t answer this question, chances are good that your reader won’t be able to either.

Possible “So What?” Answers

Some possible answers to the “so what” question:

I want my reader to understand something better I want my reader to perform an action I want my reader to change their mind I want my reader to avoid an action Etc.

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Tip #4: Watch for Emotionally-Charged Topics

Dog example:

Angel example:

Death example:

Avoid topics you can’t discuss rationally or think of in terms of an essay.

Questions?

If you have questions about this presentation, post to our discussion board at the end of this module.