Select a Topic

• Selecting a topic can be the most challenging part of a research assignment. 

• Select a topic that meets the requirements of your assignment. ​Your instructor will give you clear assignment instructions as to what you can write about. 

• Select a topic that interests you! The research and writing process will be more enjoyable and you will do a better job writing about something you are interested in. 

• State your topic as a question to focus your research assignment and select a topic for which you can find a good amount of information. Do a preliminary search of information sources.  If you find too much information, you may need to narrow your topic. If you find too little information you may need to broaden your topic.

• Be Unique. Your instructor reads a lot of research papers on the same topics semester after semester. Select an interesting topic that will make you stand out from your classmates. Write on a topic your instructor will never forget!​​​​​​​

View the Narrowing A Topic and Developing A Research Question: PDF for more help on selecting a topic.