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Choosing a Topic

Tips to Consider when choosing a research topic:

Interest. If possible, choose a topic that interests you. You'll be spending a lot of time and energy on it, and there's more chance you'll do a good job if it's something you want to know more about.

Scope. Your topic must be manageable. Avoid choosing a topic that is too broad or too narrow. If it is too broad, you will be overwhelmed with too much information. If it is too narrow, specialized, new, or limited in appeal, you may not find enough information.

Time. Choose a project that can be finished in the time you have. You will run into delays - you'll need Interlibrary Loan; to recall a book; to visit other libraries, etc. Plan for enough time to read the material and think about it before writing your paper. It is important to find information. More important? The way you use it.

Clarity. Be clear about the topic you are searching. A topic often does need to be adjusted as the information is gathered, but you should always know what topic you are searching. Not having a clear idea of what you are looking for can cause you to get off track and waste valuable time.

Think you found something to Research? 

Consider the following checkpoints:

1. Topic is within guidelines and requirements of the assignment
2. Topic is not too broad or too narrow
3. Topic is relevant to reader, current time and situation
   1. debatable, important, controversial
4. Topic is interesting to you
5. Topic is something you vaguely know about
   1. writing about something you are not familiar with can lead to a unique perspective to the topic and lead to discovery of new information which is the point of research.
6. Topic is not common
   1. a simple common topic can lead to plagiarism, the topic should involve critical thinking on the writer's part.

-Research Quick Guide. N.p.: Easybib Scholar Space, 2014. PowerPoint.

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