Humanities › English List of Topics for How-to Essays Choosing the Right Topic Is Critical to Success Print Blend Images / Getty Images English Writing Writing Essays Writing Research Papers Journalism English Grammar By Grace Fleming Grace Fleming Education Expert M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia B.A., History, Armstrong State University Grace Fleming, M.Ed., is a senior academic advisor at Georgia Southern University, where she helps students improve their academic performance and develop good study skills. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on October 16, 2020 Your first challenge in writing a how-to essay is deciding on a topic. If you're like many students, you might feel as though you don't know anything well enough to teach others. But that's not true. All people have something that they can do so well that they don't even think about how to do it anymore—they just do it. Choosing the Right Topic When you read over the list below you will realize that you do know many things in depth, some well enough to teach. Typically, your inspiration will be based on lateral thinking. For example, from the list below, you may decide to write an essay on how to cook a Scottish egg after you see "Crack an egg" in the list. Or you may decide to write about how to make an Excel spreadsheet with all of your homework listed, after seeing "Organize your homework" on the list. Read More How to Write a Great Process Essay By Grace Fleming Narrow your choices to a few topics, and then brainstorm for a few minutes about each topic. Determine which one has the most potential — one that can be divided into five to 10 clear paragraphs that you can explain well. Writing Tips Some topics are easier than others to explain. Straightforward processes versus ones with lots of contingencies will be much less complicated to write out, for instance. If you find that you've chosen a topic that's just too broad, pick one portion of it to explain. Remember, you want your reader to be able to follow your instructions to successfully complete the process. In your drafting, err on the side of too much detail and description rather than too little. (It's easier to cut material that you don't need than to add in it later.) If you're not allowed to use images with your instructions, choosing a topic that is aided by visuals makes writing the instructional process much more challenging, so take your assignment parameters into consideration as you choose what to write about. If you know your topic so well that it comes naturally to you, it may be tough to write instructions for a beginner who has no knowledge of the topic, because you forget how much you didn't know when you first started. Have a partner try out your instructions during the drafting or revision phase (or both) to see what you've left out or what isn't explained clearly enough. How-to Topics for a Process Essay Raccoon-proof your campsite Make an obstacle course for squirrels Set a table Make a pet costume Earn $100 Start a band Make a piñata Make an omelet Milk a cow Start beekeeping Read palms Make a quilt Wash a car Decorate a bedroom Create a podcast Burn a CD Start a recycling program Collect stamps Clean a bedroom Make a pizza Make a volcano Organize your homework Play the guitar Make a sock puppet Make a doll dress Write a letter to the editor Write a complaint Plan a party Plant a tree Create a cartoon character Improve your spelling Bake a layer cake Change a tire Drive a stick shift Make a Christmas stocking Learn to dance Play chess Do a magic trick Go bird watching Make a music video Make a candle Make soap Paint a picture Create art with crayons Create a web page Stay safe on the Internet Write a song Write a poem Make a handbag Tie a scarf Mow the lawn Make a hamburger Make pancakes Make a pillow Play football Make a sculpture Make a lamp Make shadow puppets Make a box Care for pets Build a tree house Play tag Play hide and seek Paint fingernails Make homemade slippers Tie macramé knots Make a sandwich Make chocolate milk Make hot chocolate Climb a tree Make a milkshake Braid hair Sell old toys Ride a skateboard Eat crab legs Become a vegetarian Make a salad Design a jack-o-lantern Ride a horse Race turtles Catch lightning bugs Make a wildflower bouquet Cut paper dolls Eat an ice cream cone Change a diaper Make fruit punch Make a campaign poster Frame art Make a fake tattoo Interview a celebrity Catch a fish Make a snowman Make an igloo Make a paper fan Write a newsletter Crack an egg Make a necklace Tie a necktie Ride the subway Walk like a model Ride a motorcycle Pitch a tent Find something you've lost Curl your hair Saddle a horse Make a sandcastle Bob for apples Go hiking Apply for a job Draw stick figures Open a bank account Learn a new language Ask for a later curfew Behave at a fancy dinner Ask somebody out Pose for a picture Wake up in a good mood Send Morse code messages Make a kite Hem your jeans Pitch a fastball Be a ghost hunter Make string art Fly alone Shave Mop a floor Peel an apple String popcorn Remix a song Walk a tightrope Stand on your head Find the Big Dipper Wrap a gift Roast a marshmallow Clean a window Make a campfire Have a yard sale Create a carnival in your yard Make balloon animals Plan a surprise party Wear eye makeup Invent a secret code Recognize animal tracks Train a dog to shake hands Make a paper airplane Swat flies Pull a tooth Create playlists Play rock, paper, scissors Hula dance Floss your teeth Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Fleming, Grace. "List of Topics for How-to Essays." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/how-to-essays-list-of-topics-1856996. Fleming, Grace. (2023, April 5). List of Topics for How-to Essays. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-essays-list-of-topics-1856996 Fleming, Grace. "List of Topics for How-to Essays." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-essays-list-of-topics-1856996 (accessed April 19, 2024). copy citation