How To Find A Topic For A Research Paper

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Choosing a Topic

Summary:

This handout provides detailed information about how to write inquiry papers including discussing research papers equally a genre, choosing topics, and finding sources.

The first step of any research paper is for the educatee to empathise the assignment. If this is not done, the pupil will often travel down many expressionless-end roads, wasting a bang-up deal of time forth the way. Practise not hesitate to approach the instructor with questions if in that location is any confusion. A articulate understanding of the assignment will permit you to focus on other aspects of the process, such as choosing a topic and identifying your audience.

Topic

A student volition often encounter one of two situations when it comes to choosing a topic for a research paper. The kickoff situation occurs when the teacher provides a list of topics from which the pupil may choose. These topics have been deemed worthy past the teacher; 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 ain.

Nonetheless, the student may also find the topics that have been provided to be limiting; moreover, it is non uncommon for the student to take a topic in mind that does not fit with whatsoever of those provided. If this is the instance, information technology is always beneficial to approach the instructor with one'due south ideas. Be respectful, and ask the instructor if the topic y'all have in mind would exist a possible research option for the assignment. Remember, as a first-time researcher, your knowledge of the procedure is quite express; the instructor is experienced, and may have very precise reasons for choosing the topics she has offered to the grade. Trust that she has the best interests of the course in heed. If she likes the topic, neat! If not, exercise not take it personally and choose the topic from the listing that seems most interesting to you.

The 2nd situation occurs when the instructor simply hands out an assignment sheet that covers the logistics of the inquiry paper, merely leaves the selection of topic upwardly to the student. Typically, assignments in which students are given the opportunity to cull the topic crave the topic to be relevant to some attribute of the course; and then, proceed this in mind as you lot begin a course in which you lot know in that location volition be a research paper near the cease. That manner, you can be on the scout for a topic that may involvement y'all. Practice not be anxious on account of a perceived lack of potency or noesis well-nigh the topic chosen. Instead, realize that information technology takes practice to become an experienced researcher in whatsoever field.

For a word of Evaluating Sources, see Evaluating Sources of Information.

Methods for choosing a topic

Thinking early on leads to starting early. If the student begins thinking virtually possible topics when the assignment is given, she has already begun the arduous, however rewarding, task of planning and organization. Once she has made the consignment a priority in her heed, she may begin to have ideas throughout the twenty-four hours. Brainstorming is often a successful way for students to get some of these ideas downwardly on paper. Seeing one'due south ideas in writing is often an impetus for the writing process. Though brainstorming is particularly constructive when a topic has been called, it can also benefit the student who is unable to narrow a topic. It consists of a timed writing session during which the pupil jots downward—often in list or bulleted form—whatsoever ideas that come to his mind. At the terminate of the timed period, the educatee will peruse his list for patterns of consistency. If it appears that something seems to exist standing out in his mind more than than others, it may be wise to pursue this every bit a topic possibility.

Information technology is important for the student to go along in mind that an initial topic that y'all come upwardly with may not exist the exact topic well-nigh which you lot finish upward writing. Research topics are often fluid, and dictated more than by the pupil's ongoing research than by the original chosen topic. Such fluidity is common in research, and should exist embraced as one of its many characteristics.

The Purdue OWL besides offers a number of other resources on choosing and developing a topic: