1. What is your possible topic? Brainstorm five questions about it Illegal Downloading of Protected Content:

2. How is the topic important to you and how does it affect you? What do you personally hope to gain or accomplish by writing about this topic?

3. Research your topic and provide a brief summary of the current points of view about the topic. Share at least two different/opposing positions on the topic.

4. Describe whom you might choose as your audience. Who are your readers, and what are their needs, motivations, and influences? In what ways will you need to structure your writing to appeal to them?

5. What specific issue will you write about within the larger topic, and what unique angle will you provide?