Figuratively
Start in Your Own Back Yard
Figuratively, "Starting in your own back yard" suggests that the best way to select a topic for a paper is one in which you already have an interest. By building on what you already know or what you want to learn about, you will have a more enjoyable writing experience.
Unless your instructor assigns a very specific topic for you, it is likely that by considering how the topic relates to your interests, hobbies, other classes, work experience, future plans, and so forth, you can likely twist the subject into one that will especially interest you.
