writing the research paper a handbook (7th ed) - ch 2 choosing a topic
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Writing The Research Paper Winker - Ch 2 choosing a topic Winkler McCuen-Metherell Seventh EditionTRANSCRIPT
22Choosing A Topic
How to Choose a Topic
• Choosing a topic – the most important step in writing a research paper. • Choose a topic you like, are interested in, are an
expert• Can be contemporary topic, or historical
• If you can’t decide, browse at library, review books, magazines, newspapers, online public-access catalogue (OPAC)
• OPAC - availability of books in library – now moving to “next generation” catalog systems (more similar to Google) – See pg. 13-14
How to Choose a Topic
• Other ways to find a topic:• Ask the librarian – CD-Roms, online databases• Internet search - Google • Encyclopedias
• Library of Congress Online http://catalog.loc.gov/ • 14 million records representing books, serials, computer files,
manuscripts, cartographic materials, music, sound recordings, and visual materials
• Encyclopedia Online http://www.encyclopedia.com/• Free access to nearly 200,000 reference entries from sources you can
cite related pictures, videos, topic summaries, and newspaper and magazine articles
• Britannica http://www.britannica.com/
How to Choose a Topic
• Take your time searching for a topic• Will you enjoy writing about the topic?• Keep looking if you have doubts – avoid boredom
• Ask yourself questions about your interests• What do I really like?• What do I want to write about?• If you like literature, what kind of literature?
• Assignment: Think about two possible topics to present to the class
Topics to Avoid
• Topics that are too BIG• If a lot of books have been written about the topic• Bibliography is often too big
• Solution is to narrow the topic• Example: India in the age of Moguls
• Narrowed to:
• “Royal Monuments of India during the Age of Moguls”
Topics to Avoid
• Topics based on a single source• Research paper is intended to expose you to
opinions of different authorities, books, articles, etc.• Choose a topic that is broad enough to be
researched from multiple sources• Example: Biography/ life of a person
• If person is not well known
• Or may be “charmed” by compelling biography
• Example: James Monroe Monroe Doctine (use multiple sources)
Topics to Avoid
• Topics that are too technical• Depends on the class• “Heisenberg’s Principle of Indeterminacy as it
applies to Subparticle Research” • Good for Physics class, but not an English class
Topics to Avoid
• Topics that are too trivial• A trivial topic can be obvious, or insignificant, does
not inspire best writing
• Examples: • History of the Tennis Ball• How to Diaper an Unruly Baby• Growing Carrots in my Backyard
Topics to Avoid
• Topics that are overused• Topics that are subject to heated public debate, with
familiar positions:• U.S. Examples: abortion, legalization of drugs,
capital punishment, global warming, animal cruelty
• Important topics, BUT, tend to use well-known arguments/prejudices
• If you do use, try a new angle: Effects of RU-48 on surgical abortions
Topics to Avoid
• Topics that are contemporary• Avoid topics that are being hotly debated currently
• Should be avoided because:1. Difficult to find unbiased sources
2. Information usually from newspapers, magazines with speculative reporting, no scholarly comment
• Try finding an equivalent topic in the past:• Example: revolutionary war in Cuba (instead of
current war)
Narrowing the Topic
• “Python cannot swallow an elephant”
• Experiment with your topic: pursue on train of thought, where does it lead? An arguable thesis?
• Consider the length of the paper versus the size of the topic
• Use trial and error
Narrowing the Topic