EN120  Composition
Using genres to get ideas
If you can't think of something to write about, sometimes it is helpful to look at different forms or genres.  Sometimes just thinking about these modes and genres will give you an idea for a topic.  This list will also give you an idea of the broad range of what is possible.
 

Personal experience narratives
Fictional narratives (short stories, fictionalized events, tall tales, science fiction etc. )
Autobiographies
Biographies
Essays
Textbooks
News Stories
Reports of current events and features
Children's books
Letters to the editor
Editorials and opinions
"How to" papers
Parodies
Advice columns
Scripts (plays, skits, radio plays, puppet shows, TV commercials etc)
Public notices
Last will and testament
Eulogies
Interviews
Oral History
Instructions
Movie, concert  and record reviews
Sports article
National Inquirer/ News of the World- type article
 Some Discourse Forms for Content Writing  (This list is similar to my genres list, and similarly useful):

journals and diaries (real or imaginary)
Anecdotes and stories (from experience or as told by others)
Letters:
? personal reactions
? observations
? public/informational
? persuasive (to the editor or to public officials)
? to imaginary people
? to or from historical or scientific figures
Requests
Applications
Memos
Fantasy
Adventure
Science Fiction
Historical Stories
Dialogues and Conversations
Children’s Books
Telegrams
Editorials
Commentaries
Responses and Rebuttals
Newspaper fillers
School Newspaper Stories
Stories or Essays for local papers
Proposals
? school issues
? national concerns
? historical problems
? scientific issues
Songs and Ballads
Demonstrations
Reviews
? for books (including textbooks)
? films
? outside reading
? television programs
Historical “You are there” scenes
Utopian proposals
interviews  (actual and imaginary)
Directions
? how-to
? school or neighborhood guide
? survival manual
Written Debates
Booklets and Pamphlets
Radio Scripts
Dramatic Scripts
Prophecy and prediction