You can easily generate ideas for an essay by brainstorming. Once you have chosen a topic to write about, ask yourself a series of questions: What? When? Why? How? Where? and Who? For example, Mary was assigned an essay about her favorite job, so she asked herself these questions:

Why was my job waiting tables at the local coffee shop my favorite?

(nice customers, good pay, a friendly boss, cute uniforms)

What did the coffee shop look like?

(big windows, shiny, polished countertops, big red booths, holiday decorations up all year round)

How did I get the job?

(One day I was in the coffee shop, enjoying a milkshake with my friends, when the owner approached the table. "Business is really good," he told us. "But two of my waitresses are leaving to go back to school. Do you know anyone who would like to work here?" I immediately said yes.)

1			Here are some topics for you to ask yourself questions about. Give yourself 10 minutes to generate as many details as possible: The best summer I ever experienced My first encounter with loss The most generous thing I ever did

Visit The New York Times and locate a short article about a topic that interests you.

2			Try to imagine the outline the writer might have created before writing the article. Write the outline yourself.