Which of the following elements is characteristic of a strong essay topic?

*it is a popular topic in class.

*There are only a few books on the topic.

*It allows for both general and focused research.

*There are many opinions on the topic available on the Internet.

*It involves extensive research on the playwright's biography.

Answer: It allow for both general and focused research.

Popularity does not mean it is good. Just like writing about Twitter - which is popular does not make it a good topic.

You need more than a few books to research. Make sure material is available.

Opinions are not good sources.

Biographies are great if you are researching a person but that is not what all essays require.