How to Choose a Paper Topic
Consult the syllabus., Do a timed writing exercise to create a list., Look for patterns or areas of interest., Narrow your list down to three potential topics., Delve deeper using the encyclopedia., Read current newspaper articles about your...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Consult the syllabus.
If you’ve been given free range to select your own paper topic, consult the syllabus to see what areas are most relevant to the course and the professor’s interests.
Read over the objective of the course and review the assignments to date to get some ideas flowing.
Were there any projects or readings that particularly interested you? Use this as a guide to begin brainstorming potential ideas., Once you’ve refreshed your memories of recent work, gather a pencil and paper to create a list.
Set a timer for 5 minutes and write down as many potential topics as you can think of in that time.
Don’t be too critical of yourself at this early stage; you’re just trying to get some ideas out.
You may find that your brain makes unexpected and pleasant connections.These don’t need to be cohesive thesis statements.
Just start creating a base of ideas.
For a class on architecture, you might write down:
Frank Lloyd Wright, midcentury modern, changes over time, Chicago, urban planning, influential architects, Mies van der Rohe, lots of windows, Prairie Style, nature. , Go through your list and use symbols, such as stars or asterisks, to note related ideas.
Consider which ideas have lots of directions to choose from and which have fewer.
Did you have a lot to say about one topic but struggled with others? Look for patterns to better understand where your interest lies.
You’re more likely to write passionately about something that truly interests you. , Using your brainstorm list as a guide, eliminate less interesting ideas until you have three potential topics or related keywords you might like to tackle.
These don’t have to be firm thesis statements yet, they can just be narrower areas of focus you’d like to explore.
For instance, using the architecture example above, three ideas might be:
Mies van der Rohe and Chicago; nature and Prairie Style; and Frank Lloyd Wright and midcentury modern. , Use the Encyclopedia Americana, Encyclopedia Britannica, or another reputable encyclopedia to search for the key terms in the three broad topics you outlined.
Read the articles that come up, and keep a pad of paper nearby to write down any interesting facts or important information you discover.
This will give you a more thorough understanding of the topics at hand., Search the databases of reputable newspapers, such as the Washington Post and the New York Times, for your topic keywords.
This will bring up any current articles about your topics.
This will also help you understand if there are any new or critical developments to consider as you choose an area to write about.
Some newspaper databases stretch back into the 1800s, so these can provide a historical perspective as well.Save the URLs of any particularly good or helpful articles, as they may be useful sources for you later on. , Make an appointment with a librarian at your school or public library.
Bring any notes you’ve taken about your early research.
Talk through your potential topics with the librarian and see what unique books or databases they think might be relevant to your research.
This may introduce you to new angles on your potential topic.For instance, in our architecture example, a librarian might be able to get you access to the digital archive of Architectural Digest or past articles by the Urban Land Institute.
Write down any important passwords or usernames you need to access the resources your librarian makes available. , After your preliminary research, take stock of which broad topics have lots of critical resources and which have fewer.
Compare your notes in each of the three areas.
You’ll want lots of good materials to support your thesis later. , The process of getting to know the topics better should have helped you better feel out which area is most of interest to you.
You may even have a potential thesis statement in mind already, but if not, that’s okay too.
Weigh your interest in what you’ve found out and the resources available.
An area of high interest with a lot of resources is ideal.
In our architecture example, nature and Prairie Style architecture could be your broad topic to further refine. , Using your preliminary research as a guide, turn your broad idea into a research question that you will attempt to answer with your paper.
It can be helpful to consider the relationship between your keywords.
Did one make or influence the other? Did they happen or live concurrently? The nature of your broad idea will inform the sort of question that makes sense.So, for example, rather than just nature and Prairie Style architecture, a research question could be:
How did the Prairie Style architects represent nature in their architecture? , Make your question more specific so you are addressing the topic in a unique way.
The best way to do this is to restrict the topic by adding conditions.Limitations about geography, time frame, or population are some popular ways of doing this.So, How did the Prairie Style architects represent nature in their architecture on Chicago’s West Side? Or how did the Prairie Style architects represent nature in their architecture in the 1950s? , Now, use your preliminary research to form a basic answer to the question you created.
This will be the topic of your paper and the idea around which you centralize deeper research going forward.
The answer might be obvious in your opinion based on what you’ve read, or you might want to revisit some articles and sources now that you’ve narrowed your topic.Often there is no one right answer to a research query.
The answer depends on your opinion and how you interpret what you’ve read.
Don’t be afraid to draw your own new conclusions.
So, for example, how did Prairie Style architects represent nature in their architecture on Chicago’s West Side? Might be answered:
The wide open green spaces of Chicago’s West Side inspired Prairie Style architects to add large windows.
This could be your paper topic going forward. -
Step 2: Do a timed writing exercise to create a list.
-
Step 3: Look for patterns or areas of interest.
-
Step 4: Narrow your list down to three potential topics.
-
Step 5: Delve deeper using the encyclopedia.
-
Step 6: Read current newspaper articles about your potential topics.
-
Step 7: Ask a librarian for help.
-
Step 8: Determine which topics have the most sources to draw from.
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Step 9: Choose a broad topic for your paper based on your research.
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Step 10: Phrase your topic as a research question.
-
Step 11: Narrow the scope of your question by adding detail.
-
Step 12: Form a thesis statement.
Detailed Guide
If you’ve been given free range to select your own paper topic, consult the syllabus to see what areas are most relevant to the course and the professor’s interests.
Read over the objective of the course and review the assignments to date to get some ideas flowing.
Were there any projects or readings that particularly interested you? Use this as a guide to begin brainstorming potential ideas., Once you’ve refreshed your memories of recent work, gather a pencil and paper to create a list.
Set a timer for 5 minutes and write down as many potential topics as you can think of in that time.
Don’t be too critical of yourself at this early stage; you’re just trying to get some ideas out.
You may find that your brain makes unexpected and pleasant connections.These don’t need to be cohesive thesis statements.
Just start creating a base of ideas.
For a class on architecture, you might write down:
Frank Lloyd Wright, midcentury modern, changes over time, Chicago, urban planning, influential architects, Mies van der Rohe, lots of windows, Prairie Style, nature. , Go through your list and use symbols, such as stars or asterisks, to note related ideas.
Consider which ideas have lots of directions to choose from and which have fewer.
Did you have a lot to say about one topic but struggled with others? Look for patterns to better understand where your interest lies.
You’re more likely to write passionately about something that truly interests you. , Using your brainstorm list as a guide, eliminate less interesting ideas until you have three potential topics or related keywords you might like to tackle.
These don’t have to be firm thesis statements yet, they can just be narrower areas of focus you’d like to explore.
For instance, using the architecture example above, three ideas might be:
Mies van der Rohe and Chicago; nature and Prairie Style; and Frank Lloyd Wright and midcentury modern. , Use the Encyclopedia Americana, Encyclopedia Britannica, or another reputable encyclopedia to search for the key terms in the three broad topics you outlined.
Read the articles that come up, and keep a pad of paper nearby to write down any interesting facts or important information you discover.
This will give you a more thorough understanding of the topics at hand., Search the databases of reputable newspapers, such as the Washington Post and the New York Times, for your topic keywords.
This will bring up any current articles about your topics.
This will also help you understand if there are any new or critical developments to consider as you choose an area to write about.
Some newspaper databases stretch back into the 1800s, so these can provide a historical perspective as well.Save the URLs of any particularly good or helpful articles, as they may be useful sources for you later on. , Make an appointment with a librarian at your school or public library.
Bring any notes you’ve taken about your early research.
Talk through your potential topics with the librarian and see what unique books or databases they think might be relevant to your research.
This may introduce you to new angles on your potential topic.For instance, in our architecture example, a librarian might be able to get you access to the digital archive of Architectural Digest or past articles by the Urban Land Institute.
Write down any important passwords or usernames you need to access the resources your librarian makes available. , After your preliminary research, take stock of which broad topics have lots of critical resources and which have fewer.
Compare your notes in each of the three areas.
You’ll want lots of good materials to support your thesis later. , The process of getting to know the topics better should have helped you better feel out which area is most of interest to you.
You may even have a potential thesis statement in mind already, but if not, that’s okay too.
Weigh your interest in what you’ve found out and the resources available.
An area of high interest with a lot of resources is ideal.
In our architecture example, nature and Prairie Style architecture could be your broad topic to further refine. , Using your preliminary research as a guide, turn your broad idea into a research question that you will attempt to answer with your paper.
It can be helpful to consider the relationship between your keywords.
Did one make or influence the other? Did they happen or live concurrently? The nature of your broad idea will inform the sort of question that makes sense.So, for example, rather than just nature and Prairie Style architecture, a research question could be:
How did the Prairie Style architects represent nature in their architecture? , Make your question more specific so you are addressing the topic in a unique way.
The best way to do this is to restrict the topic by adding conditions.Limitations about geography, time frame, or population are some popular ways of doing this.So, How did the Prairie Style architects represent nature in their architecture on Chicago’s West Side? Or how did the Prairie Style architects represent nature in their architecture in the 1950s? , Now, use your preliminary research to form a basic answer to the question you created.
This will be the topic of your paper and the idea around which you centralize deeper research going forward.
The answer might be obvious in your opinion based on what you’ve read, or you might want to revisit some articles and sources now that you’ve narrowed your topic.Often there is no one right answer to a research query.
The answer depends on your opinion and how you interpret what you’ve read.
Don’t be afraid to draw your own new conclusions.
So, for example, how did Prairie Style architects represent nature in their architecture on Chicago’s West Side? Might be answered:
The wide open green spaces of Chicago’s West Side inspired Prairie Style architects to add large windows.
This could be your paper topic going forward.
About the Author
Jacqueline Kennedy
Specializes in breaking down complex lifestyle topics into simple steps.
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