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How to Find a College Essay Topic You're Passionate About

When searching for a topic you feel passionately about there are a few sure steps you can take to find the perfect college essay topic. Selecting a topic you feel passionately about will help secure your success, and keep both you and your readers interested. Below we have outlined some easy steps to succeeding:

  1. Read the Prompt
  2. In order to find the appropriate subject to discuss in your next college essay, you will want to be sure you have thoroughly read the prompt. The prompt will give the theme of the paper, the specific expectations, and any other necessary information. Knowing these key essentials can narrow down options when searching for a topic you feel passionately about.

  3. Brainstorm
  4. Once you are clear on the instructions for the essay, you will want to brainstorm. Think about current events, items you have read, information you have heard about, and other surrounding ideas. Do any of these peak your interest? Make a short list of topics that you feel passionately about, and you think will bring you success. You will take this short list of ideas, and research them to pick the best possible option for your next college assignment.

  5. Research
  6. Now that you have selected some ideas that you feel interested in, you will want to do a little preliminary research about each one. This research done early on can help save you a lot of trouble later. Sometimes we select a theme for a paper without doing any research, and may find there is not a lot of information available. By looking before you commit to an idea, you can select a topic that you not only feel passionately about, but one that also has plenty of available information and sources for strong support.

  7. Consult
  8. Now that you have found an idea that you feel passionately about, that meets the qualifications of the assignment, and also has plenty of available information—you will just want to get the seal of approval. When writing a paper it is a good idea to have an advisor or to seek advisement from appropriate individuals. If you feel skeptical about whether or not an idea for a paper may be strong or weak, you can always look to your professors, peers, and campus academic services (writing lab, library help desk, tutoring zone, etc.) for outside perspective.