need help organizing ideas
Understanding a Writing Prompt
Overview for Writing Prompts
Before you can choose an effective topic or viewpoint, you need to know the purpose of the
assignment and its requirements. Types of writing assignments can vary from department to
department, class to class, instructor to instructor, and even assignment to assignment. So
before you begin, you need to thoroughly understand the assignment.
Choosing a Topic
Sometimes an instructor will assign a topic or provide a list from which you can choose. If this
happens, you can simply begin with the general topic and narrow it down to your specific
viewpoint. Some instructors have very specific instructions, but others may give a general topic
that you then need to consider a smaller element of that general topic. For instance, the topic of
gender is too large of a discussion to write about in a five-page essay, so narrow it down to
gender roles for men or gender expectations for women.
If you must choose your own topic, like for a research paper, here is a list of possible methods
for choosing a topic.
Look over class notes or previous writings for interesting ideas.
Focus on discussions, writings, or articles that you find interesting. You may also think
about interesting news stories.
Consider points or opinions when someone, including the instructor, may have indicated
that not many people discuss or consider.
Consider any personal experience that you may have to draw from.
Consider how you might expand a previous writing assignment or explore a different
point of view about that topic.
Look through textbooks, journals, or other collection of articles for a topic that interests
you.
Ask your instructor for ideas.
If you disagree with someone, even if that person is considered an expert, about a topic,
you could mirror their argument but use your own opposing ideas.
Once you have a topic, even if it is a general topic, consider some specific aspects of the
assignment. Here are a few that you need to think about:
1. The purpose and mode of writing
2. The audience of the essay
3. The amount of research necessary and what you already know about your topic before
research
4. Length requirements and other minimum requirements
5. Possible approaches (logically, ethically, emotionally)
6. How your writing will be graded
a. Original thoughts
b. Use of appropriate research or other evidence
c. Use of correct writing strategies
d. Style of writing, including use of grammar
The Assignment Prompt
If the assignment is written in an official prompt, you should read the document carefully. What
specific words are used in the prompt? Those words will help you determine how you should
approach this essay.
Argue (agree/disagree)
Criticize
Define
Describe
Discuss
Evaluate
Explain
Compare and contrast
Reflect
Summarize
If there are topic-specific terms that appear in discussion and articles about your topic, you
should familiarize yourself with them. Make sure you fully understand the term’s definition in
relation to the topic, its context or history, and its correct usage in a sentence.
If you have a prompt that includes suggestions for writing, consider how you could use those
suggestions to structure your argument. This could also help with an outline.
If the prompt specifies that you are to use a certain strategy for writing, make sure you
understand that method of structuring an essay, including use of transitions.
Have a working thesis idea, or central idea that you are building around in writing and research.
This idea is not set in stone, so it may change or evolve over the course of your writing. You can
edit this thesis idea into your actual thesis statement later in the writing process.
Once you come up with your topic and your specific viewpoint, you can start the writing process.
