Step 1: Read the assignment
Read the Assignment
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What is the purpose of the assignment?
- Informative?
- Persuasive?
- Expressive?
- Literary?
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Can you choose anything?
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Is there a list to choose from?
Step 2: Brainstorming Ideas
Brainstorming Ideas
- What are you interests?
- What infuriates you?
- What are you passionate about?
- What are you curious about?
- What have you been hearing/seeing recently...
- on TV
- in the news
- on social media
- on campus
- in your class
- What is trending in the media?
- Search for topics via Google or library databases (see below)
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Opposing ViewpointsDatabase of reference, news, magazine, and journal articles as well as statistics, videos, audio clips and recommended websites providing pro and con coverage of controversial political and social issues.
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CQ ResearcherCollection of reports providing in-depth unbiased coverage of political and social issues.
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Issues & Controversies in American HistoryCollection of articles providing concise and balanced coverage of the backgrounds, outcomes, and contemporary points of view for every major debate and conflict in American history.
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The Brookings InstituteThink tank with studies on many topics.
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Heritage Foundation"The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institution—a think tank—whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense."
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Pew Research TopicsThe Pew Foundation does a lot of polling the opinions, habits and beliefs of the American public.
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ProCon.org"The Leading Source for Pros & Cons of Controversial Topics"
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Room for Debate (New York Times)Opinion articles published in the New York Times addressing a variety of "hot topics."
Step 3: Preliminary Research
You must do some research
before you come up with a
research question.
Preliminary Research:
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Learn more about your topic.
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What sounds interesting to you from what you discover?
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What gaps do you see in the information you have found?
Step 4: Creating a manageable topic
Topic Narrowing Tools
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Narrow Your Topic (tutorial)This tutorial from Arizona University Library shows how to narrow a topic.
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Narrowing Topic (by steps)Narrowing your topic in 3 steps (U of Michigan Library guide).
Topic is Appropriate
- Does it match the assignment? See Step 1.
- Is it manageable?
- Time: Do you have the time to thoroughly research this topic and meet the requirements of the assignment?
- Too broad?
- Too specific?
- Resources: Do you have access to relevant resources to address this topic?
- Skills: Are you prepared to tackle this question (reading, writing, technical skills)?
- Time: Do you have the time to thoroughly research this topic and meet the requirements of the assignment?
Is it a good research question?
Does it study the topic/question in a new way?
Does it connect findings to a larger or specific group of people?
Does it share a perspective not often heard?
Does it share a new solution or way to perform tasks?