Settling on a topic is often the most challenging part of a writing project. If you are assigned a general topic, consider which aspect of that topic might help you accomplish your purposes and those of your readers. If you can choose your own topic, spend some time thinking about your writing situation before deciding what you’ll write about. In either case, be sure to listen in on written conversations about potential topics. You’ll almost certainly find that some conversations are better suited to your writing situation than others. Some conversations, for example, might seem to be largely settled, and you’ll have little to offer to further the discussion. Others might require a deeper knowledge of a subject than you currently possess or could develop before the due date for your assignment. Still others, however, might intrigue and surprise you and, as a result, might be good candidates for exploration.

Narrowing your focus is a critical point in your writing process. Once you’ve chosen a general conversation and identified a specific aspect of it that intrigues you, you can begin to collect information in earnest, read with a purpose, and take notes. See tips on generating ideas and listening in on written conversations. In Chapter 3, you’ll learn how to read actively and evaluate sources. Part Three discusses strategies for gathering information and working with your sources.