Sometimes it can be difficult to think up a great research topic. Have no fear -- Taylor Library is here to help! Check out these database and websites to get some ideas.
Page 2
Not sure where to start?
These REFERENCE SOURCES will help you get a general overview of your topic (look for print Reference books in the Information Commons).
Subscription resources are available to Fontbonne students, faculty, & staff. Guests are welcome to visit us at the library.
Before choosing a topic, make sure you understand your assignment and what your instructor is asking for. If you have questions, make sure to ask your instructor for clarification.
1. Choose a subject area that interests you and that will interest the readers. Try to avoid topics that are overly used such as abortion or gun control. It is important to choose a topic that is academic in nature - something that people will be doing research on. If your paper is an argumentative/persuasive paper, you need to pick one that is controversial or that people feel passionate enough to argue about or to do research on (otherwise you'll have a hard time finding sources).
2. Do some background research on any subjects that you are interested in using encyclopedias and websites. This will provide you with an overview so that you gain a better understanding of the subject area and you can see what issues are related. Background research can also help you decide what way to focus on a subject area. For example, you might be interested in the subject of social media. If you look social media up in an encyclopedia it might talk about issues related to it such as privacy or bullying. You then might decide to focus on the topic of social media and privacy.
3. It is a good idea to state your topic in the form of a question to stay focused on what it is that you are trying to explain or prove. For example, if you want to do research on advertising and body image among teenage girls, you might ask:
What impact does advertising have on the body image of teenage girls?
4. When you come up with a topic, choose the main concepts in your research question (for the question above it would be "advertising", "body image", and "teenage girls") and do an initial search with them in the Library catalog or databases. If you are getting way too many hits, you might need to narrow your topic more. If you are not getting enough hits, you might need to broaden your topic.
Some common pitfalls include choosing a topic that is too:
broad narrow recent local
You want a manageable topic that is of enduring interest to you - and to others.
5. Once you are sure you have a manageable topic that is interesting and that has enough research out there you can use in your paper, create a thesis statement. This will be an answer to your research question or a statement that explains the purpose of your research.
This video is really helpful in explaining how to create a really good research question:
Answer:
Importance in choosing a relevant, significant, and interesting research topic
- The first, and possibly most important, step in the research and writing process is selecting a topic! This step will determine the rest of your steps, including your thesis statement, sources, and how you write your paper.
- To begin with, when you select a relevant topic, you are not the only one who will benefit from this research; the readers will as well. They can use your research as a reference and be aware of what your topic is all about; this also works if you have a significant topic.
How to choose a relevant, significant, and interesting research topic?
- Background research will assist you in developing your topic and honing or changing it in appropriate ways. Knowing more about the background of your topic can only help you develop a more effective topic, and thus research paper.
- Ideas should be brainstormed. When you've come up with a broad topic that interests you, try to brainstorm all of the words or concepts that might be related to that topic (and write them down). For example, if your topic is "polar bears," you might associate the following words and topics: ice, cubs, pollution, hunting, diet, climate change, and environmental icon.
- Create a research question. After you've developed a broad topic and conducted some background research, you may want to develop a research question, or a question that you'll answer in your paper by conducting additional, in-depth research.
- What is your general perspective on the subject? Consider the following general approaches to help you further develop your topic: Use a historical angle to focus on a specific time period; a geographical angle to focus on a specific region of the world, or a sociological angle to focus on a specific group of people.
- Stand firm on your chosen research topic. If you can defend your title, you will know how your paper will go.
What consideration do you make in selecting a topic for research: brainly.ph/question/8290320
How to choose a good research topic: brainly.ph/question/2456970
#BrainlyEveryday
consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam lacinia pulvinar tortor nec facilisis. Pellentesque dapibus efficitur laoreet. Nam risus ante, dapibus a molestie consequat, ultrices ac magna. Fusce dui lectus, congue vel laoreet ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam lacinia pulvinar tortor nec facilisis. Pellentesque dapibus efficitur laoreet. Nam risus ante, dapibus a molestie consequa
gue
ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam lacinia pulvinar tortor nec facilisis. Pellentesque dapibus efficitur laoreet. Nam risus ante, dapibus a molestie consequat, ultrices
gue
nec facilisis. Pellentesque dapibus efficitur laoreet. Nam risus ante, dapibus a molestie consequat, ultrices ac magna. Fusce dui lectus, congue vel laoreet ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ip
gue
ec aliquet. Lore
e vel laoreet a
usce duiusce dui lectus, congue vel laoreet ac, dictum v
ctum vitae odiinia pulvinar tortor nec facilisis. Pellentesque dapibus
ipsum dolor sit amet, co
, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consecte
ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam
gue
ec facilisis. Pellentesque dapibus efficitur laoreet. Nam risus ante, dapibus a molestie consequat, ultrices ac magna. Fusce dui lectus, congue vel laoreet ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam lacinia pulvinar tortor nec facilisis. Pellentesque
a. Fusce
entesque dapibus efficitur laoreet. Nam risus ante, dapibus a mo
gue
ce dui lectus, congue vel laoreet ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ipsum
gue
consectetur adipiscing e
ce dui lectus, congue vel laoree
molestie consequat, ultrices ac magna. Fusce dui lec
tesque dapibus efficitur laoreet. Nam risus ante, dapibus a molestie consequat, ultrices ac magna. Fusce dui lectus, congue vel laoreet ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, c
icitur l
lonec aliquet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.cing e
ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisci
consectetur adipiscing el
icitur laoreet. Nam risus ante, dapibus a molestie consequat, ultric
ipiscing elit. Nam lacinia pulvinar tortor nec facilisis. Pellentesque dapibus efficitur laor
gue
acinia pulvinar tortor nec facilisis. Pellentesque dapibus efficitur laoreet. Nam risus ante, dapibus a molestie consequat, ultrices ac magna. Fusce dui lectus, congue vel laoreet ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ipsum
gue
Donec alipiscing elit. Nam lacinia pulvinar tortor nec facilisis
, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ipsum
molestie consequat, ultri
ce dui lectus, congue vel laoreet ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec al
nec facilisis. Pellentesque dapibus efficitur laoreet. Nam risus ante, dapibus a mo
gue
molestie consequat, ultrices ac magna. Fusce dui lectus, congue vel laoreet ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. N
gue
cing elit.ng elit. Nam lacinia pulvinar tortor nec facilisis. Pellentesque dapibus efficitur laoreet. Nam risus
s ante, dapibus a molestie consequat, ult
consectetur adipiscing e
s ante, dapibus a molestie consequat, ultrices ac magna. Fu
ipiscing elit. Nam lacinia pulvinar tortor nec facilis
usce dui lectus, congue vel laoreet ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam lacinia pulvinar tortor nec facilisis. Pellentesque dapibus efficitur laoreet. Nam risus ante, dapibus a molestie consequat, ultrices ac magna. Fusce dui lectus, congue vel laoreet ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam lacinia pulvinar tortor nec facilisis
gue
a. Fusce dui lectus, congue vel laoreet ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet. Lorem ip
sum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam lacinia pulvinar tortor nec
ongue vel laoreet ac, dictum vitae odio. Donec aliquet.
gue
gue
gue