Selecting a Topic

If you are given the task of selecting your own topic for a research paper, it's essential that you spend time thinking about and researching possibilities and options. Whatever you do, don't pick the first idea that pops in your head because you may end up writing about something that doesn't motivate or interest you in the long run. Usually, you can find a good topic by identifying an issue that touches your life in some significant way. Perhaps it's a problem that you are experiencing or have experienced at school, work, or home or in your community. Perhaps it's a significant issue that causes a strong reaction in you. The best topics are ones you have a natural interest in, ones you would read about, discuss, pursue on your own. To make your writing interesting, avoid overly familiar topics like gun control, abortion, or the death penalty unless you can bring something new to the discussion that your audience is unlikely to have considered.

Choose a topic that

• addresses your instructor's assignment.
• is manageable and narrowly defined, one that can be effectively presented within the parameters of the assignment.
• touches your life in a significant way and that you have a natural interest in.
• allows you to bring insight to the situation and enlighten others.
• has not been overly written about by countless other students.
• lends itself to questions.

Consult these pages for more help on finding a topic:

• Use library and electronic resources to find a topic.
• Complete a worksheet to help identify a topic.
• Check out topics used by other students.

See sample student work:

• Picking a Topic

Steps in the Research Process

Framing Your Research Questions

E-mail your comments and suggestions to the YSU Grant Team (cardcat@bgnet.bgsu.edu).