Prewriting 2: Generating Ideas
In general, it’s best to understand your task first and then start digging into the assignment and your topic. Once you understand your writing task, you’ll be ready to start working on your ideas and your sources.
Keep in mind that the process and strategies described in this section are not intended to be overly sequential or rigid. Sometimes, you may find that you get new ideas for your paper as you read a source. There is nothing that says that you can’t work on developing those ideas while reading and annotating your sources. Other times, you may find that you have a new idea to add to your paper while you’re revising. Don’t let an overly rigid view of the process keep you from jumping to whatever is the most productive stage for you.
You need to be producing ideas, not shutting them down, even if some of them won’t work. If you censor yourself too much, you can talk yourself out of any possible topic and get stuck.
Starting When You Don’t Have a Topic…Yet
Sometimes the ideas for a paper come to us quickly. We know what we want to write about, or our problem may be too many ideas, rather than not enough. If that’s the case, you can skip this section (at least for this project), but you’ll want to pick up again when we get to narrowing your focus.
You may feel anxious if you don’t yet have a topic, and that anxiety may encourage you to latch onto the first topic that seems vaguely connected to the assignment, even if you don’t think it will work. Resist that urge. Finding a workable topic doesn’t take much time, and trying to work with a topic that isn’t viable or that you hate will ultimately cost you much more time.
So, first, take a breath. Ideas for topics are all around you. You just need to try some strategies to bring out the ones that can work for you.
If you are stuck for a topic, in 15 minutes or so, make quick notes on the following questions without worrying about how these notes connect to the assignment (yet):
- Your classes: What do you find interesting about your classes (or a major you are considering)? What makes you want to pursue that field of study?
- Class topics: What intriguing topics have come up in this class or in other classes? What are you curious about?
- Popular topics: What ideas or issues are people talking about on social media, on the internet, or in popular magazines/newspapers that you would like to know more about?
- Your own knowledge: What are you already familiar with and know well? What do you spend your time on?
- Your passions: What do you care deeply about? What makes you angry or upset? What makes you excited or happy?
- Your experiences: What has happened to you that warrants further exploration?
It’s very important not to censor yourself as you write your notes. Don’t cross out a topic while you are generating ideas.
Now make a short list. Circle or highlight the topics that are the most likely to work for this assignment. If you have more than one, don’t worry. Y