LibGuides: COMS Oral Communication: Selecting a Topic

Topic

Selecting a Topic

Selecting a topic for a research paper can be challenging; however, there are various recommended resources on this page to assist you in this part of the research process. Once you have a general topic, you will need to conduct some background research to narrow your topic down. It is essential to have a focused topic in a research paper because it gives direction and clarity to your writing.

Topic Idea Websites

IDEA--International Debate Educational Association
"The International Debate Education Association (IDEA) is a global network of organisations who believe that debate promotes mutual understanding and informed citizenship around the world. We are the world’s leading provider of debate education, providing resources, training and events to hundreds of thousands of educators and young people every month."
Idea Generator
Lots of topic ideas from Old Dominion University.
ProCon.org
Pros and cons of controversial issues.
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to conduct in-depth, nonpartisan research to improve policy and governance at local, national, and global levels.
CalMatters
CalMatters is a nonpartisan and nonprofit news organization bringing Californians stories that probe, explain and explore solutions to quality of life issues while holding our leaders accountable.
Pew Research Center
Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. They conduct public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social science research. They do not take policy positions.

Example

Example:

You could write thousands of pages on global warming, but narrowing your focus to the impact of rising sea levels on coastal wetlands will give you a manageable topic and a clear purpose.

How do I narrow my topic?

When analyzing your topic, ask: who, what, where, when, why and how?

Who are the significant players? Who was impacted?
What are the components or aspects of the topic will you explore?
Where does your event take place? What locations are impacted by your topic?
When did the event occur and/or what is the significance of the time period on your event?
Why does this topic matter? Why are you interested in it?
How does this topic impact society?