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WR122 Wickert (Online)

Website for Adam Wickert's online WR122 students, who are working on annotated bibliographies and research papers.

Choosing a good research topic

Before you choose a topic to research, test it out and make sure it is a good topic to use!

Now that you've learned how to choose a good research topic, the next step is to develop a thesis.

Screen blank or would like Closed Captioning? Watch the YouTube video.

  Video created by CCC Library (Feb. 2018).

Choose a topic

Having trouble finding a topic for your paper? The most important aspect of your topic is that it needs to be interesting to you - because you get to learn (research) and write (paper) about it.

  1. Browse for suggested topics in CCC Library's databases (good database options for topic browsing are listed below under Browse for topics).
  2. Review your class lecture notes and PowerPoints.
  3. Brainstorm topics by making a concept map.
  4. Bounce ideas off of your classmates, instructor, or a librarian, tutor, or peer mentor.

A good topic:

  • is interesting to you;
  • is narrow enough - too broad a topic and you won't be able to cover it in your paper;
  • is broad enough - too narrow a topic and you won't be able to find enough information about it; and
  • fits the parameters of your assignment.

Browse for topics

Developing a topic

In this video, you will learn to develop an appropriate topic for a research paper by considering goals, approaches, topic scope and helpful resources.

Developing a topic from Downs-Jones Library on Youtube.

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