The student should select a topic that is relevant to the course work. Many courses focus on learning what has and is happening in the field. Students may want to be creative and imagine where the field is headed. This allows the student to learn about the latest developments in the field and propose solutions to existing problems. For example, students studying the environment may want to write an essay on eco-friendly waste management solutions that do not exist past theory yet. A media student may want to write an essay with proposed solutions to the rights holders vs. digital download debate.
A research oriented essay allows the student to select a topic and thoroughly research it. The student can get creative and think about topics not covered in class. The students can select topic they are passionate about. For example, a European history student may chose to research aboriginal history in Europe, a topic not covered by most European history classes. A film student may want to write about Mongolian cinema, something not covered in most film classes.
Students are often opinionated and passionate about their views on various issues. The established views or philosophy of a topic may not necessarily be something the student agrees with. This is a chance for the students to get creative and focus on topics they feel have not been explored fully. For example, a political science student may want to do a critical analysis on the electoral system, pointing out where improvements are necessary. A biology student may want to do a critical analysis on genetic research and argue for a particular side.
Students can also get creative with comparative essays. Traditional comparative essays usually focus on very related topics; for example, compare communism to socialism. However, students can get creative with the topic and discuss issues that are not normally related. For example, a medical student can compare the onset of ADD with use of food coloring. A media student, can compare self-esteem issues with the amount of TV watched in teenagers. The student can get very creative and link topics that may seem unrelated.