Think about the purpose of the essay. Are you defining something? Describing something? Evaluating something? The topic you choose should fit the purpose for writing the essay.
When you have decided what kind of essay you are going to write (unless, of course, a teacher has assigned a specific type of essay), start writing down any topics in which you are interested. Don’t worry about whether they are suitable right now. Just make a list of any possible topics that come to mind. ("any possible", in this case, means not to try to think of a "good" topic, nor reject some ideas as "bad", just list anything that comes to your mind.) This is called brainstorming. You can make a choice from the list later.
Now that you have a list of possible topics, look at each one carefully. If the purpose of the essay is to classify, describe or define, the topic should be one about which you are knowledgeable. If the essay is to compare or evaluate an event or action, you should be very interested in that aspect. It makes life more difficult to write about a subject for which you have no knowledge or interest at all. (Of course, sometimes you need to do exactly that, if it is an assignment from an instructor.) The most important thing in choosing a topic is to have enough ideas about the topic you’ve chosen. You need sufficient information about the topic in order to write three or four paragraphs that give details.
If none of the topics you listed seem right for you, you can brainstorm again, or pick the second-best topic from your list. You might be surprised to see how well it turns out, even if that the topic wasn’t your first choice. Important note: If you want to write an analysis of a topic, be sure it is manageable. For instance: "Fishing" is a general topic. You would need to write a whole book instead of just writing an essay, in order to write about every aspect of fishing! It would surely be better to narrow it down to a specific topic: “Fly-Fishing", "Fishing in Brazil", "Deep Sea Fishing", etc. The only time you’d want to choose a general topic is if you are writing an overview. (An overview is a broad description or definition or commentary on a subject.)
Some people (maybe most people) skip this step when writing an essay. It may seem to you to be more work, but trust me; it does make essay-writing easier! As we organize our thoughts and our notes, it then becomes very easy to see the gaps in our knowledge.
First ask yourself these questions:
1. What question is going to be answered in this essay? ("Why is Fly-Fishing so popular?")
2. How can I answer this question best? (By describing the challenges or the scenery in fly-fishing areas, or the lower cost compared to deep-sea fishing… There might be a lot of different answers.)
3. What is the most important part of the answer? (Choose the one you think is the most important reason.)
4. Can I make an thesis (introductory) statement with this topic? ("Fly-fishing is now the most popular kind of fishing in Brazil.")
5. Can I support my introductory statement? (Do you have the facts or knowledge to support your claim?) If I need more information, where can I find it?
If your chosen topic seems to be acceptable to you after you have asked yourself those questions, make some notes on your answers. This will give you reminders of what you want to accomplish in your essay.
Now, start finding the facts you need to write the essay. Just get the facts that answer your introductory question. Don’t get sidetracked gathering information that you do not need. If you are writing about fly-fishing in Brazil, obviously it’s a waste of time to make notes on fly-fishing in Canada, or on deep-sea fishing off the coast of Brazil.
Next, write down your own ideas and opinions. Is there anything else you want to say about the subject that will fit the essay? Can you make people interested in fly-fishing in Brazil? Do you have enough information to write an essay? Do you have too much information for the essay? You may even find that you have chosen the wrong topic. Don’t get discouraged. Just start thinking of another topic. It’s also possible that you may need to narrow the topic even more: “Fly-Fishing in Northern Brazil", or "Fly-Fishing At Vacation Spots in Brazil.” Maybe you need to write an overview instead: “Fly-Fishing as a Hobby”, or "Fly-Fishing South of the Equator.”
An outline is a brief guide or plan about the main subject. If you write an outline of the essay first, it will definitely help you to organize the ideas you will be writing about. There are several ways to write an outline. You can use any way that works for you. Here is one example that will give you an idea about how to write an outline. You don’t have to write your outline exactly as this outline was written. This is just a guide for you:
I. First, find the main idea of your essay
A. Write a thesis (introductory) statement on which to build your essay.
B. Then choose three points that will support your thesis statement. These points are what define, explain, evaluate, or "prove" your thesis statement. They give the reader details about your topic and support your thesis statement.
1. Briefly stating the main topic along with the three supporting points is called the introductory paragraph.
2. In each of the succeeding three paragraphs, you will take one of the points---and give the reader details about that one point.
II. Organize your facts and ideas to develop your main point. This is when you choose the three or four supporting points you will use to prove or explain or define your thesis statement.
A. Decide the best way to tell the reader about the main point.
1. Look at the facts.
2. Look at your own ideas.
B. In what order will you put these facts and ideas?
1. The most important point, first.
2. The second point, which is of somewhat less importance than the first point.
3. The third point, which will have the least importance of the three points.
III. Conclude your essay.
A. Summarize your points and re-state your main idea or purpose.
EXAMPLE OUTLINE:
I. To describe/define/ or explain why Brazilian fly-fishing is popular.
A. Fly-fishing has become a popular sport in Brazil in the last 11 years.
1. Introductory statement: The number of fly-fishermen has tripled in Brazil since
1994.
a. Briefly list the reasons you believe this has happened (cost, exercise, challenge, scenery, relaxation, etc. State no more than three or four reasons.)
II. Paragraph #1: The cost
1. Cost of equipment
2. Cheaper licenses
3. Cheaper to travel to fly-fishing areas.
III. Paragraph #2: The challenge
1. Skill involved
2. Physical fitness needed
3. Ability to know the best conditions for catching fish.
IV. Paragraph #3: Relaxation
1. Beautiful surroundings
2. Away from noise and traffic
3. Fresh air and exercise.
V. Conclusion
A. Re-state your main points and your purpose for the essay.
1. "Because of the increasing demand for inexpensive forms of recreation, and the desire for interesting and healthy ways to spend leisure time, fly-fishing has become increasingly popular in Brazil."
2. Add a final sentence or anecdote that shows that it’s the end of the essay. (DO NOT WRITE “The End.”)
Now you are ready to start: Writing the Essay