In some writing situations, your instructor will assign the topic. In others, your instructor will allow you to choose your own topic, perhaps selecting from a number of possibilities. When you choose your own topic, don’t just grab the first one that comes to mind. Rather, look for a topic that

In addition to Internet browsing to search for a topic, don’t overlook topics discussed in your classes or related to your entries in your writing journal, daily activities such as sports or social events, programs you’ve heard or seen on radio or television, or the world around you: people, objects, and social interactions. (For more on keeping a writing journal, see coverage in Chapters 2 and 3.)