Not all college professors let students pick the topics they write about. But some do, and if you have the opportunity, don't overlook it! The ability to choose your topic gives you a tremendous advantage and properly utilized, can boost your chances of getting an A through the roof! Here's why: most students hate writing. They dread it and put it off until the absolute last minute, and they know from the minute something is assigned that this is what they'll do. So to make life easier on themselves they all tend to choose the same mundane, "softball" topics. You might be saying "yeah, so what? that's obvious!" But consider it from your professor's point of view. This means they're getting 10, 20, or even 30 papers that are all pretty much the same, or at least very similar.

That's your opportunity! By simply choosing a paper that is somewhat diferent or more in-depth than the typical lazy student, you will stand out to the professor and probably get a better grade. Here are some tips on choosing the right topic to get the good grade:

1) Find out what topic most students chose and deliberately pick something very different

This is relatively straightforward. Just casually ask a few students what topic they picked, then a few more students the next class, and so on until you have a rough idea of what everyone picked. In most cases, you will find a great majority of them chose either the same thing or a very similar thing. If so, you're in business! Start brainstorming on potential topics that are as far away from everyone else's as possible. This alone will make your paper a breath of fresh air when the professor gets around to grading it.

2) Take a controversial stand on something

Controversy is one of the most effective ways of creating interest. If your paper advocates a position or viewpoint that is controversial, and you back it up with sound research and argumentation, an A is virtually assured. The only exception to this rule is when your position runs against the professor's and they take it out on your grade. However, this does not actually happen as often as you might think. Most professors are capable of putting their biases aside for grading purposes and only truly care about whether you can make your point in a clear way.

4) Choose the same topic as your peers but do a way better, more thorough job of it

Choosing the right topic doesn't have to mean choosing a different one. Sometimes you can get an excellent grade by chosing the same topic as everyone else but doing a way better job. Look at it like this: the reason most of your peers chose the same topic is because it's easy. They envisioned breezing through with a night or two on Wikipedia, some basic paraphrasing and very little originality. You can count on this. It's literally why they chose the topic they did. This creates an opportunity for you to do that same topic with vigor and aplomb. Go to the library. Read a bunch of in-depth articles on the topic. And then hammer out a paper that puts everyone else's half assed, cookie cutter papers to shame. Guarenteed A.