choose topic your research paper

The ability to develop a good research topic is an important skill. An instructor may assign you a specific topic, but most often instructors require you to select your own topic of interest. When deciding on a topic, there are a few things that you will need to do: brainstorm for ideas choose a topic that will enable you to read and understand the literature ensure that the topic is manageable and that material is available make a list of key words be flexible define your topic as a focused research question research and read more about your topic formulate a thesis statement Be aware that selecting a good topic may not be easy. It must be narrow and focused enough to be interesting, yet broad enough to find adequate information. Before selecting your topic, make sure you know what your final project should look like. Each class or instructor will likely require a different format or style of research project. Use the steps below to guide you through the process of selecting a research topic. Step 1: Brainstorm for ideas Choose a topic that interests you. Use the following questions to help generate topic ideas. Do you have a strong opinion on a current social or political controversy Did you read or see a news story recently that has piqued your interest or made you angry or anxious? Do you have a personal issue, problem or interest that you would like to know more about? Do you have a research paper due for a class this semester? Is there an aspect of a class that you are interested in learning more about? Look at some of the following topically oriented Web sites and research sites for ideas.  Are you interested in current events, government, politics or the social sciences? Are you interested in health or medicine? Look in Healthfinder.gov, Health & Wellness Resource Center or the National Library of Medicine Are you interested in the Humanities; art.
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Summary: This handout provides detailed information about how to write research papers including discussing research papers as a genre, choosing topics, and finding sources. Contributors:Jack Raymond Baker, Allen Brizee, Ashley VelázquezLast Edited: 2013-10-07 01:53:41 The first step of any research paper is for the student to understand the assignment. If this is not done, the student will often travel down many dead-end roads, wasting a great deal of time along the way. Do not hesitate to approach the instructor with questions if there is any confusion. A clear understanding of the assignment will allow you to focus on other aspects of the process, such as choosing a topic and identifying your audience. Topic A student will often encounter one of two situations when it comes to choosing a topic for a research paper. The first situation occurs when the instructor provides a list of topics from which the student may choose. These topics have been deemed worthy by the instructor; therefore, the student should be confident in the topic he chooses from the list. Many first-time researchers appreciate such an arrangement by the instructor because it eliminates the stress of having to decide upon a topic on their own. However, the student may also find the topics that have been provided to be limiting; moreover, it is not uncommon for the student to have a topic in mind that does not fit with any of those provided. If this is the case, it is always beneficial to approach the instructor with one's ideas. Be respectful, and ask the instructor if the topic you have in mind would be a possible research option for the assignment. Remember, as a first-time researcher, your knowledge of the process is quite limited; the instructor is experienced, and may have very precise reasons for choosing the topics she has offered to the class. Trust that she has the best interests of the.
One of the most difficult steps in beginning a research paper can be choosing a topic. This page has suggestions for selecting and focusing a topic, as well as a list of possible topics to help you jumpstart the process.  Focusing a broad topic Where to find ideas for topics Topic ideas Strategies for focusing a broad research topic Are you overwhelmed with how much information you are finding?  Try the suggestions below: Develop a tentative focus  List what you already know and questions you have about the topic and focus on those you find most interesting. Find background information on your topic   Check our Electronic Reference Collection for an article in an online encyclopedia you can trust.   Look for magazine articles  Magazine articles tend to be shorter and can provide a general idea of key issues or controversies related to your topic. Try: Academic Search Complete Academic OneFile Search CQ Researcher This is a great source for finding background information and overviews of a wide array of topics. Choose a particular perspective on the issue How do scholars from different subject fields approach your topic? Finding different points of view can provide you with a better sense of direction. Look through our subject-specific databases listed on the Find Articlespage like:  Limit your search to a specific time period  Look for date limit options when searching a database. Need more help? Ask a Librarian for assistance. Finding research topic ideas You'll be spending a bit of time on your research paper, so be sure to choose a topic that will sustain your interest! You can find ideas for research topics by using the following strategies and resources: Scan your textbook and other class readings for topic ideas and suggestions Draw on what you have read or seen recently that interested you Pick a topic relevant to your life Considering a career in politics? .
Sometimes choosing your topic may seem like the hardest part of a project. Your assignment will be your starting point, and the requirements will tell you a lot about what sorts of ideas will make an appropriate topic: How long does your paper need to be? A shorter paper will need a more narrowly focused idea, and a longer paper a broader one. How much time do you have? If you have several weeks, it’s likely your instructor is expecting you to do a lot of research. Do you need a a particular number or type of references? Scholarly books and articles, for example, take time to write and publish, so topics focused narrowly on a recent event can be problematic. There are several ways to help generate ideas for a paper if reviewing the requirements of your assignment leaves you stumped. Talk to your instructor or TA. They may have suggestions, or can give you examples of the sort of ideas that have made for good papers for other students. Talk to your classmates. Find out what ideas they’re considering. Talking to each other is a good way to brainstorm and to figure out what interests you. Think about what you’re studying in other classes. Are there interesting ways in which they might intersect with or relate to this class? Browse newspapers (in print or online) or reference materials.  If you decide to use a current event as your starting point, keep in mind that it takes time to write scholarly articles and books on a subject. You may need to broaden your focus to have a meaty enough topic to write about. Look through this list of topics that the University of Illinois Library has collected. It has dozens of topics that have been of interest to recent students. It’s a great place to start if you’re at a loss for ideas.
Trying to decide what to write can be difficult and frustrating. Your professor will usually provide a general topic that reflects the course material; but you will be required to focus on some aspect of that topic. It is up to you to decide the angle to take. Before continuing, please read the following general concepts about choosing research topics. Getting ideas for your topic. Course material: Go back over lecture notes or textbook chapters to find a topic. Brainstorming: Take the general topic and create a concept map for it.  From there you may find some aspect of the topic you would like to explore. News: Yahoo News, CNN.com, local broadcast news all cover recent events and may pique your interest for further exploration of the story. Internet: There are many reliable educational and current event resources available on the Web that are excellent sources of ideas for selecting research topics. Keep in mind that because of the open nature of the Web, many resources vary in quality. Choose an interesting topic. There is more motivation to do a research assignment if there is genuine interest in the topic. If the research assignment is unrestricted, relate the topic to some personal experience or issue of personal relevance. If you have no personal interest in the assigned topic, pick an aspect of the topic you are curious to know more about. Narrow your topic. Depending upon the subject and required length of a research assignment, be careful not to choose a topic that is too broad in scope. Focus on a particular event, time, person or group, and/or place. The Media's Influence on Body Image Media comes in various forms such as television, advertisements, movies, and commercials. This topic would be too general and broad to research and cover in a short paper of 5-10 pages. Instead, it would be necessary to narrow the focus of the topic to some smaller aspect.