How To Choose a Topic (GROUP 1)

A Good Choice, Indeed
Rachelle Sindo


You love foods. You do, and most probably, all of us definitely do. However, when instances occur that we have to really decide only one food that we could put into our mouth and stuff in our stomach, I tell you, it is will not be as easy as loving it anymore.
This scenario is somehow similar to a journalist who loves playing with a pen and its ink or with a computer and its encoding software. But then, when the writing is no more free and is time already to choose one specific topic to write, just like picking one food to feed yourself, it will not be as simple as making your blog or diary entry, not anymore.
I, for affirmation, could absolutely relate in both situations mentioned above. I am a food lover, and at the same time, an amateur journalist. Although a food and an article are entirely different things, choosing what to eat and what to write have a certain aspect where they form commonalities and thus, somehow resemble a splitting image. Now, allow me to speak about these two things. I hope you will find my justifications of relating them to be justifiable and my subjects of comparison to be comparable.
Let us begin with the question: How do you choose a topic for an article?
Well, this query has been answered in so numerous times already but what I will be sharing with you are the class priorities of some of the 2nd year Journalism 103 (Interpretive Writing) students of the Mass Communication program in the University of the Philippines in the Visayas- Cebu College based on their experiences in their Journalism 102 (News Writing) course.
First on the list is to choose a topic according to your interest just as you choose your food according to what your appetite dictates. “It is easier to write an article if you yourself love to write about it,” says one of the students.
Your proximity to source or your connections is another approach which then follows that your choice of what to eat will likely be the most accessible food in your place. This simply indicates that if you already have an idea of whom to interview for a specific topic, it will not be difficult anymore to make a story of it.
Third in rank are choosing a topic depending upon the relevant events or current issues and suggested topic of family members and friend just as the newest cuisine in town and the recommended course of others affect your preference of food.
Surfing the net or researching is also an option. “Nowadays, the world wide web provides you with so many good ideas on what to write,” remarks another student. Similarly, exploring restaurants, food chains and other eating houses give you a handful of menu to choose from.
Choosing a topic based on the events attended, activities undertaken, and unique things discovered are all fourth in the list. In a way or another, these are all identical to eating something which you have tried or tasted before and foods that are exotic or oddly eaten.
Sports tidbits, ideas which are products of brainstorming are among the least cited ways of selecting a topic which may apply to selecting a food which are energizing and are outcomes of deep-thinking. One student also wrote a very interesting way of how to choose a subject and that is through waiting for a topic to just pop-up in his/her mind which he/she then considers to be the topic destined for him/her (Word of warn: This is NOT advisable). Probably, this can be similar when you choose a food because you happened to pass by it or encountered it along your way.
These are only among the techniques on how to choose a topic to write and you can even have your personal method or manner of doing so. It does not matter which way to follow for as long as it will be an effective article serving its purpose to either persuade, inform, or entertain. And this is a lot like deciding on what food to eat. For as long as it satisfies your cravings, it dispenses nutrients to your body, and supplies you with vitality; it will always be a good choice.




Topic of Interest

By Joselito C. Manabat

Deciding what story to write can be one of the problems that a writer may encounter along the way.

Because of so many issues available, our choice on what to write is sometimes affected.Once we are in doubt of what to do, our desire to progress our writing may lose its excitement. We now start setting aside our assignment and start doing another thing because we have not yet decided as to which issue is to be chosen.

This problem is common to all writers especially to the beginners. However, their is a solution for this. Let's not forget that we as writers have different interests built in since birth. From these interests that we have, we can draw an interesting angle which we can convey better than to force ourselves to write a story a miles away from our experties and that we can't write it to the best of our ability. Interest can be closely relative to knowledge because once you have such, you can fully elaborate the story you are writing to. And once your story is fully elaborated because of your interest that brings knowledge,then the elements of the story could be completed. No more stopping and think. No more setting aside assignment and no more fears to write.But, you have the excitement to write.

The following are suggestions that would help us write effectively:

1. Writing a topic of intrest

Writing a topic of interest can be one of the best ways of enhancing our capability to write. Why? Because we can relate to what we are writing. We actually authored it in our mind before we put it into writing because we are interested. If we write a story which we also are interested to, then we can insert so much knowledge into it.

2. Writing a topic which has a proximity to source

Of course, source is important. Without the source there is a big possibility that the story wil be killed and lose its opportunity to be published. Writing a story which has proximity to source can be advantageous. Advantageous in the sense that if there is a need for interviews which I presumed that all writers are doing, there is this easiness to do it. Once the source is available then you have no problem of writing it as early as possible. If these two suggestions are to be considered, then no more fear of the deadlines of articles which most of us writers considered as killing and a very tiring part of the assignment.

I hope that you now have the tips on how to target your deadlines for submissions.


Surfing the Internet and Experienced-Base Topic
Irish Lim


The usual problem of novice writers is to find a topic: Can’t think of anything good to write about? Not contented with your ideas? Bored with what you have gathered? Well, the class has spoken and 2 out of the 5 top list of figuring out a topic will be discussed here.

Topics don’t just pop out of nowhere. It is created through thinking combined with other factors. One of the said factors is researching or surfing the net.

With 20th century’s technology advancements, beginner writers try to find ways of researching topics using one of the greatest inventions, the internet.

The internet is a helpful tool, and is not just used as an effective way for socializing and entertainment but is also considered by my classmates as a useful means to look for a topic to write about. Surfing the net or researching, which garnered 4 points and is in the top 4 of the list, is a good way to come up with interesting ideas.

The internet is a fountain of ideas and topics, ranging from science discoveries to blogs talking about anything under the sun. It is also the key to opening the doors of the latest news in other countries. It boasts of very good search engines and sites; google.com, ask.com and MSN to name a few, for the convenience of the searchers. Even human-guided search engines (Chacha.com) are starting to pop up to help those who find manual searching hard.

The 5th of the list consists of three subtopics: events attended, experience based and unique/new topic. The trio got 3 votes and placed 5th.

Organizations, companies and other groups usually hold forums, discussions or product launching open to the public. With these events, one can get a topic and write about it.

Unique topics or happenings always spark enthusiasm on writers. It inspires us to write about something so rare and unheard of.

Our experiences can be good topic references, too. Experiences are good teachers. You tend to know more when you have experienced something, thus you can write more about a topic.

These are all effective ways on how to look for a topic, but it still boils down to what method is effective for you: different people, different preferences.





Sports tidbits
Kris Zamora


Sports has always been a popular field for looking a topic. Who doesn’t like sports anyway? I guess you have a thousand of sports fans out there waiting for some fresh stories and updates about their fave sports stars.


Brainstorming
An idea resulted from the suggestions of your trusted colleagues is never that bad. In fact it is an effective one in getting to decide a topic. Gather them for a fiery brainstorm session and act as the facilitator. Be the first to share of your possible topic, and I'm pretty sure a minute later the room will be steamy with conversations and exchanging of ideas. Ask for their opinions and let them voice out their wild thoughts, you’ll be surprise of how much big help this could to you!


Pop out topic
Though pop out topics are a bit risky to pursue on, since these are topics created in a blink of an eye, or simply it just pop out in your mind unexpectedly, you might find it difficult to write about later. Remember, in picking a topic you have to consider the other factors too, like who will be your readers? And are there available sources? Nevertheless, pop out topics if analyze carefully, could end up into an interesting topic. Just make sure to note whatever possible subjects that came popping into your mind, then think them over one by one as to which is more related and significant to the readers.