Writing Essay (2)

c. Choosing a topic

Most of us  find that it is difficult to decide a topic of an essay. This particulary due to our comprehension on the assignment, therefore we should make certain that we understand the assignment. Some assiggments have already distinguished or limited the topic which will be discussed, while some only distinguished a paper’s length and format. It is easier for the first assignment because we make limitations in an explanation, yet the second takes more time because we have to brainstorming ideas about the topic. Here are some options that may help in choosing topic for a literary essay (1997: 23-24)

• Compare two works of literature
• Compare two characters or discuss some traits those characters share
• Find a common theme-jealousy, revenge, repression-in several works
• Consider how a common subject-war, love, nature­-is treated in several works
• Examine a single element in one or more works like plot, point of view or character development
• Focus on a single aspect of that element, such as the role of flashbacks, the effect of a shifting narrative perspective or a character motivation
• Apply a critical theory to a work of literature such as feminist or marxist perspectives
• Examine connections between an issue treated in a work of literature and same issue as it is treated in sociological or psychological journals or in the popular press
• Examine some aspects of history or biography and consider its impact on a literary work
• Explore a problem within a work and propose a possibe solution

However, we have to narrow the scope of the topic so that it fits within the limits of the assignments.
     
d.      Finding something to say

Next we have to find something to say after deciding a topic. We can begin by using information that have been collected previously when highlighting and annotating. Those information can be formulated as the main idea of the essay and find the others to support our statements. We can use a variety of different strategies to find the supporting ideas such as mentioned below (1997: 24):

• Discussing ideas with others-friends, classmates, instructors or parents
• Asking questions
• Doing research
• Freewriting-keep writing the topic for a given time without pausing to consider style, structure or content
• Brainstorming-jot down ideas into single words, phrases or sentences, questions or statements, quotations, paraphrases, summaries even our own ideas
• Keeping a journal that is used to expand the marginal annotations, recording responses aboout the work during te reading, noting questions, exploring ideas, experimenting with possible paper topics, trying to paraphrase or summarize difficult concepts or speculating about a work’s ambiguities 
• Listing is a process of reviewing the notes we collected through brainstorming, keeping a journal and annotating text; deciding what material is pertinent and arranging it into categories so that we can determine a direction for the essay