Hey Readers,
As crunch time rolls around here on campus, are you feeling swamped? Maybe you have a lab report due in Chem., a test in Psyc., and a paper coming up in English. Time to prioritize! There's no worse feeling than trying to cram in that English paper the night before it's due (been there, done that). So, here's an insider tip on how to come up with an essay topic in advance ...
Step #1: Invest in a good highlighter (pink, blue, yellow--pick your fave)
Step #2: When reading your assigned pages for class, highlight sentences or passages that interest you. Maybe you're "going green," so highlight sections on nature or the environment. Interested in social networking? Highlight passages on friendship. Are you an artist? Highlight chapters on color imagery.
Step #3: After you've reached The End, flip through and see what kind of topics you highlighted.
Step #4: Combine your interest into a topic. How does color imagery reflect a deeper meaning in The Great Gatsby? What is Leslie Marmon Silko suggesting about nature's power in Ceremony?
Step #5: Focus. Finish your first draft.
Step #6: Sign up for an appointment at the Writing Center. Not sure if your thesis statement is strong enough? Having difficulty incorporating quotes? Struggling with topic sentences? We can help.
Good luck & Happy Highlighting!
~Mary
