Think about the assignment and make an appointment with the Writing Center!

What you are allowed to write about?

Start listing different ideas.

Write down the first ideas that pop into your head. Do not worry about if they are “good ideas.” What matters is that you write them down.

Pick one or more ideas that interest you.

Break the ideas down into smaller parts. What are a few aspects of the topic that you find interesting?

For example, if you chose "nature," then what aspect do you want to write about? Climate change? Deforestation? Endangered animals?

Break it down again and again!

If you chose deforestation, are you focusing on the loss of forests in North America? Asia? Africa?

Now, be even more specific. Are you focusing on the Congo Basin? The rainforest of Xishuangbanna? Tongass National Park in Alaska?

Land on a specific idea and move on to choosing a topic within your idea.

For example, deforestation in Tongass National Park is a good idea but too broad to be a topic.

Other strategies for brainstorming include:

freewriting, lists, “book reports” (problems, history, arguments), make a visual (word map, graphs, tables)

First, do some basic research on your idea, finding any source you can.

Then, ask the journalist's questions: who, what, when, where, why, and how?

Who is affected? Who is involved?

What are the current problems and debates? What is the history?

When do we need to take action?

Where is it taking place?

Why does it matter? Why is it happening?

How do we respond? How have others responded?

Make these questions more specific.

Keep them clear, focused, concise, and arguable (not yes/no).

How are black and brown bears affected?

■ Where and why is the deforestation mainly taking place?

■ What can we do to reduce logging in Tongass National Park?

Use these questions to discover a specific topic, what you believe, and what you think should be done.