Choosing a Topic

Choosing & Developing Your Research Topic: Overview

  • Find a topic and get to your research question(s)
  • Understand the difference between a topic and a subject
  • Your topic and research questions will probably change as you do more research

Choosing a Topic

  • A good topic is the foundation of a good paper.
  • The topic should not be too broad or too narrow.
  • Choose a topic that interests you! If you care about the topic, the research will be a quest, not just another class assignment.

Where to Start?

Getting to Your Research Question

Topics vs. Subjects

  • Choose a topic, not a subject area.
  • General subject areas are too broad.
  • Examples of broad subjects: sports, education, ecology, medicine, violence, communication.

 

Topics vs. Subjects (examples)

  • Topic = a particular question, issue, problem or concern within a given subject area.
  • Example:
    • Education (subject) > Homeschooling (topic)
  • Example:
    • Violence (subject) > School violence or gangs (topics)

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