Writing Assignments

1.1. How to choose a topic wisely

Often you are given a list of topics to choose from for your assignment.  OR You might be given a broad topic and have to identify your own topic based on what you’ve covered in the course.  Either way, you’ll want to select a topic that works for you.

Consider brainstorming (you might like to use some of the questions below) in order to help you select your topic. 

When selecting a task from a given list consider:

• Do you clearly understand all the choices?

• What are you interested in?  What do you want to, or need to, learn more about.

• What do you already know a lot about?

• What topics align to your strengths?

• Where would you like to be challenged?

When selecting a task from a stimulus question or broad topic consider:

• Do you clearly understand the question or broad topic?  What clarification do you need?

• What topics/texts have you covered this semester?

• What stands out as interesting/engaging/challenging from what you have covered.

• What are the common themes of the tutorials?  What’s the ‘big picture’ that your lecturer is asking you to engage with?

More helpful hints are available here.