Choosing a Topic
The first step in the research process for all of your assignments is selecting a topic that meets two requirements:
1. The topic must be interesting. Generally, writers who are interested in their topics have a good chance
of making their topics interesting to readers.
2. The topic must be researchable. Trivial topics that might have popular interest but little serious scholarly
interest are not appropriate in an academic writing course. The topic must be old enough to have a
substantial research base yet new enough to still be relevant and interesting. Do not commit yourself if
you are unsure about the availability of sources. Find out how much material the library has on the topic.
Some sample topics include genetic testing, the electoral college system, assisted suicide, mandatory
drug testing in schools, year round schooling, the increase promotion of plastic surgery for cosmetic
reasons, school prayer, and stem cell research.
Your instructor may ask you to avoid topics that are overworked - for example, gun control, abortion rights, or capital punishment. Be sure to record other topics your instructor asks you to avoid.
The following questions might help you select an appropriate topic:
1. Briefly define or describe your topic. Try to answer questions reporters usually ask - Who? What? When?
Where? Why?
2. What claim are you going to make about this topic? What is your hypothesis?
3. What is the scope of your topic? What are the main points you will discuss? List them in order of
importance.
4. Are there points or issues you will need to omit in order to narrow your topic? What are they?
5. Give brief accounts of what other people have said or written about your topic.
6. Explain why you agree or disagree with what other people have said about your topic.
7. Who is your audience for this paper? What aspects of the topic will be interesting and relevant to your
audience.
8. What aspects of the topic may not be interesting or relevant to your audience?
9. Give a brief explanation of issues that might make your topic arguable or controversial.
10. Which of these issues will you emphasize in your research paper?
1. The topic must be interesting. Generally, writers who are interested in their topics have a good chance
of making their topics interesting to readers.
2. The topic must be researchable. Trivial topics that might have popular interest but little serious scholarly
interest are not appropriate in an academic writing course. The topic must be old enough to have a
substantial research base yet new enough to still be relevant and interesting. Do not commit yourself if
you are unsure about the availability of sources. Find out how much material the library has on the topic.
Some sample topics include genetic testing, the electoral college system, assisted suicide, mandatory
drug testing in schools, year round schooling, the increase promotion of plastic surgery for cosmetic
reasons, school prayer, and stem cell research.
Your instructor may ask you to avoid topics that are overworked - for example, gun control, abortion rights, or capital punishment. Be sure to record other topics your instructor asks you to avoid.
The following questions might help you select an appropriate topic:
1. Briefly define or describe your topic. Try to answer questions reporters usually ask - Who? What? When?
Where? Why?
2. What claim are you going to make about this topic? What is your hypothesis?
3. What is the scope of your topic? What are the main points you will discuss? List them in order of
importance.
4. Are there points or issues you will need to omit in order to narrow your topic? What are they?
5. Give brief accounts of what other people have said or written about your topic.
6. Explain why you agree or disagree with what other people have said about your topic.
7. Who is your audience for this paper? What aspects of the topic will be interesting and relevant to your
audience.
8. What aspects of the topic may not be interesting or relevant to your audience?
9. Give a brief explanation of issues that might make your topic arguable or controversial.
10. Which of these issues will you emphasize in your research paper?