Thought Starters

As a writer you can begin by asking yourself questions and then answering them. Your answers will bring your subject into focus and provide you with the material to develop your topic. Here are twenty questions or “thought starters” which present ways of observing or thinking about your topic.

X is the broad topic:

1. What does X mean?

2. How can X be described?

3. What are the component parts of X?

4. How is X made or done?

5. How should X be made or done?

6. What is the essential function of X?

7. What are the causes of X?

8. What are the consequences of X?

9. What are the types of X?

10. How does X compare with Y?

11. What is the present status of X?

12. How can X be interpreted?

13. What are the facts about X?

14. How did X happen?

15. What kind of person is X?

16. What is my personal response to X?

17. What is my memory of X?

18. What is the value of X?

19. How can X be summarized?

20. What case can be made for or against X?

21. What are specific reasons that refute X?