Finding Topic Ideas

• Read the Newspaper. (For example, here is a partial list of news stories that have appeared over the past several months from various news sources.)

• Read Current Issues of Magazines on Subjects that interest you.

• Watch the TV and Cable News

• Talk to friends, parents or relatives

• Read Current Headlines from the Online Databases (for example: ProQuest Newsstand carries full text articles for hundreds of newspapers including the Star Tribune, New York Times, Washington Post, etc.)

• Browse Subject Headings in RHS Library Catalog or Library of Congress Subject Headings

• Browse Your Textbooks (use Table of Contents or Index)

• Browse the Subject Index of Opposing Viewpoints, Global Issues in Context or GreenR, or Points of View Reference Center.

• Browse General or Subject Specific Encyclopedias for Topic Ideas.
  (For example: Encyclopedia Britannica and there are hundreds of Subject Encyclopedias available in the Gale Virtual Reference Library)

The library's databases and the subject encyclopedias are tremendous resources to generate research ideas.

Assignment:

Using each of these resources, select TWO topic ideas from each of the listed databases that interest you and fill out this Choosing Topic Ideas assignment sheet.

• Choose a broad subject to begin with, investigate topic and narrow it down.

Tips on Choosing A Topic

• Choose a Topic You Care About! This is the most important criteria when selecting a topic for a research paper. Does it relate to your prior experience/background or knowledge or interest?

• Select a Subject that is timely!

• Choose something for which information exists! Is the amount and kind of information needed available?

• Avoid topics on which too much has already been written. This will bore your teacher and put your paper up against previous papers as comparison.

• Read Selectively and Critique!

• Write down ideas you come up with, keep a log!

• Do preliminary research (This will help you figure out which topics really interest you)

• Will the topic allow you to meet the requirements assigned by the teacher?

• Will the topic interest anyone else?

• Does your topic create an image in your mind? Can you visualize parts of the paper?

• Formulate your Topic into a Question?

What Makes a Good Topic?

• Am I interested in this topic?
  You'll do a better job - and enjoy the process more - if you're interested in your topic.

• Is the topic large or broad enough?
  Your topic needs to be substantive enough so you can write a 10 to 15 page paper.

• Is the topic specific enough?
  Your topic needs to be specific (or narrow) enough so you can cover it adequately in your research paper; a topic suitable for a 100-page paper would be too much to cover in a
  10-15 page paper.

• Do I have anything to say about this topic?
  If you don't have a point to make about your topic, it will be hard to write about it.

• Will I be able to adequately research the topic?
  Do you have access to the types of resources you will need, and can you do the research in the time you have?

Assignment:

KWH Exercise: Selecting two of your more promising topic ideas, write on the attached worksheet, responses to the following questions:

What do You Think You Know about this Topic?

What Would You Like to Know?

How does this Topic Impact Society Nationally or Internationally?