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CHOOSING YOUR TOPIC When choosing a topic, your first consideration should be the exact requirements of your information need. In the case of an assigned research paper the type and length of your paper will be major factors in selecting a topic. A three-page paper will have to be much more focused than a ten to fifteen page paper. Likewise, writing about some aspect of literature will be very different from about a current controversial topic. Be aware that a research paper is not simply a collection of facts on a particular topic. It is a chance for you to develop and display your reasoning ability. Be sure that you read carefully and understand thoroughly the terms used in the directions for your assignment; they may include words such as "analyze," "compare," "evaluate" or "argue." It is important that you understand exactly what these terms mean in relation to your paper. Often your instructor will provide a list of suggested topics. This is a good place to start. If your instructor doesn't provide suggestions, don't panic; there are issues and ideas available everywhere. Television news, radio, newspapers and magazines all offer ideas for research papers. Possible topics abound! You may also want to consider an issue that affects you or someone you know directly. As a student, you may want to consider topics related to your chosen career field or topics that will help you with another course you plan to take. When selecting topics for papers on current issues, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind. Without seeming to restate the obvious, the topic must be CURRENT. You must also avoid issues that have already been proven or are simply statements of fact (i.e. "breast-feeding is healthy for infants"). In addition, some instructors will not accept papers on certain topics such as extra-sensory-perception, the paranormal or abortion. These kinds of topics are considered to be primarily opinion based and/or emotional in nature. Keep in mind that different instructors can have very different guidelines for what is or isn't an acceptable topic. It is important that you discuss your topic ideas with your instructor if you have any doubts about whether your topic is current or an acceptable topic for your paper. As you begin, it is important to keep several possible topics in mind. Research is a process and you will often find it necessary to eliminate a particular topic after doing some initial reading. If you have a list of several topics that meet your requirements, you won't have to start from scratch if one or more of them doesn't pan out. Stuck for topic ideas? These Web sites provide suggestions
for topics on a wide variety of subjects: |
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