A. STATE YOUR STRONGEST DEBATABLE TOPIC
- Write: My most-likely academic major is _____________, and I plan to write my Synthesis Essay and Researched Argument on the debatable issue of _____________.
B. RANK CRITERIA FROM AN “A” TO “F” GRADE
- Is your topic debatable?
- Does your topic avoid being too cliché or too overwhelming?
- Does your topic avoid being too general?
- Is your topic researchable?
- Can you identify a call for action in your own argument (i.e. the argument in your Researched Argument essay)? Does it call for realistic social change?
- Are you interested in your topic? Will it assist your education and future career?
C. BRAINSTORM AND ANSWER
- Based on your answers to these questions, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your topic at this point.
- Brainstorm how you might modify your topic even further than you did earlier.