The topic you choose plays a large role in the outcome of your research project. It is likely that your topic will change several times as you progress through the early stages of research, so don't worry if your first few ideas turn into dead ends. Where are you in the process right now? Show Getting ideas for your topicUnderstand the Assignment
Is it a 5-minute presentation or a 15-page paper? Do you need to find everything about the topic or just enough about one area to explain it to someone else? Asking yourself these kinds of questions can help you determine what types of sources you are looking for. Do you need recent information? Do you need primary sources? Do you need data sources? If the due date is less than a week away, you’ll need to focus on resources that our library has. If you have more time, you’ll be able to request articles and books through Interlibrary Loan. A good topic is...
Ways to look for ideas when brainstorming a topic:
Choose a topic that interests you. Use the following questions to help generate topic ideas.
Write down any key words or concepts that may be of interest to you. These terms can be helpful in your searching and used to form a more focused research topic. Be aware of overused ideas when deciding a topic. You may wish to avoid topics such as abortion, gun control, teen pregnancy, or suicide unless you feel you have a unique approach to the topic. Ask the instructor for ideas if you feel you are stuck or need additional guidance. If you need help, try our Research Topic Guide for ideas. Sometimes using a Concept Map can help you come up with directions to take your research.
Selecting a topic is the first step. If the choice is up to you, pick a topic that interests you. Think broadly about your topic and do some preliminary research by consulting subject encyclopedias, dictionaries or handbooks. You can also check appropriate current periodicals or browse shelves of books classed in subject areas to get ideas on research topics. Refine Your TopicYou will probably have to narrow your topic since most topics are too broad for a research paper. For example, you want to research the use of Ancient Greek comedy. This topic is still too broad and you will need to further refine it. For example: Women's role in the comedies of Plautus. Develop Your TopicOnce you have identified your topic:
Use dictionaries and thesauri to define other terms to build a useful list of terms. These terms will become the keywords for searching catalogues, indexes, and databases for information about your subject. For example: Main concepts: women, role, comedies, Plautus Secondary concepts: female, women, woman, role, character, characterization comedy, comic drama, , Plautus, Miles Gloriosus Once you have identified key terms for your topic, you are ready to shape your strategy for searching catalogues, indexes and databases. To visually spell out the concepts and relationships among the ideas, check out these examples of concept tables. (Virginia Tech University Libraries) Form a Search StrategyGo to the section on Search Strategies as well as University of Saskatchewan Library's How to Formulate a Search Strategy guide.
Read an encyclopedia article on the top two or three topics you are considering. Reading a broad summary enables you to get an overview of the topic and see how your idea relates to broader, narrower, and related issues. If you cant find an article on your topic, ask a librarian for help.
Answered By: Woodruff Library Reference Last Updated: Jan 04, 2022 Views: 499577
How do you decide what to write about when confronted with a research paper? You want a focused topic! Here are some things to consider:
Here's one strategy for developing a research topic once you have a broad topic in mind:
The topic development process will help you to develop your thesis, which is essentially your proposed answer to your research question. You will then be ready to use the sources you've found, and find more sources in order to support that thesis, or to answer your research question. Here's an example of how the topic development process above can lead you to a thesis: Resources that can help you develop your topic:
Check out this video from NCSU Libraries: Thanks go to the Portland State University Library for sharing their Library DIY idea with us!
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