Finding a topic for your paper

1. Finding a topic for your paper

2. Type of paper determines • Most do argumentative? Why – it’s fun! It’s pretty easy (once you “get” it) You get to come up with your own arguments & back them up w/research. • Expository – explains or describes something. Appropriate for something you want to learn about. Typically “tough to describe”. Ie. Scientology, comparative religious study, future of technology, a new culture, etc. Basically something you want to know more about.

3. STRONG! • Topic = thesis statement core. • That thesis is what will motivate and influence all research • The thesis is also what your writing will develop from. • Weak topic selection can lead to a weak thesis which can doom you into mediocrity.

4. Risk/Originality! • Overdone topics = annoying to those who listen/read to year in and year out.  • Unless you can add a new/interesting never-heard-before take on it. • BE ORIGINAL! • Making a topic personal and adding yourself can turn even the most done topic into something fresh. • New research to cite helps! • Best = new, slightly risky topic.  Boundaries exist, but choosing a controversial/taboo topic can instantly draw in your audience.   BUT DON’T OFFEND!! It’s a fine line…

5. Universality • Topic can captivate the interest of a majority of the audience.  • Never select a topic to humor audiences • But try to chose a subject that others can find interesting.  • Holding an audience captive and raising their curiosity is AWESOME!

6. Can it be researched? • Difficult to cite anything when sources are near non-existent. • This can either come from the selected topic not having much resources written on the topic OR because the information is not accessible.  • Either way, this leaves you in a limited position of what you can learn and cite regarding the issue.

7. Be Concise! • Select a topic that can be turned into a concise thesis.  • Hard to write a paper when the thesis is so broad that it seems as if the topic changes mid-research.  • Be narrow.  • The larger a thesis/topic is, the easier it is for the paper to enter inflation as you try to touch upon every idea or tangent you can find.  Find the main idea of a subject and write about that.

8. Love it! • If you do not love your topic then that will be reflected in your paper.  • Your analysis will be rushed and your research thin.  • Love what you do!

9. Some I could think of…(or stole from debate) • Is the Confederate Flag Racist? • Misunderstanding Introversion • The Perks of Being the Class Clown • The importance of words & what you say. • Is it necessary to cheat your way through school? • 16 and NOT pregnant! Why focus on the negative? • I’m a teen, not a criminal: Changing perceptions of teens. • Think of you.. What you like, what you’re into…

10. Here’s some goodies… • Racial profiling is a legitimate law-enforcement policy. • Pay me what I’m worth – equal the “gender gap” in pay. • Are homosexual characters appropriate in daytime TV? • High school classes should be separated by gender.

11. What fascinates you? • Other people’s customs/culture? • Comparing schools in regions of the country. Why are northern schools outperforming southern? Other countries? • Different houses (architecture) – types, what they are, how they developed • Art – explore different movements, etc. • How can you improve….. • What can be done about…

12. More goodies… • Get Your Business Out of My Sports, thanks “Bank of America” stadium! • Let the rich eat my taxes! • Literature today is still same-old, same-old (gender issues) • Increased punishment for “white-collar” crimes. • European systems (pick education, health care, etc) are better. • TV is NOT me.

13. More stuff I recently saw… • The Benefits of Bullying? How kids need conflict to become strong. • The dawn of DNA – how its improved society • Prior debate topics – the costs of a college education outweigh the benefits (reword it though!) • In a democracy, civil disobedience is an appropriate weapon in the fight for justice (reword!) • Describe the likely consequences of doing poorly in school

14. Overdone • Abortion • Gay marriage/adoption • Media stereotypes • Eating disorders • Steroids • Death penalty. • Legalizing marijuana (thanks, pothead) • Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.. I’m sorry I fell asleep!

15. Preliminary research… • Remember – you don’t just research “cheating in high school”. Change up your search parameters. “Academic dishonesty” or add the word “statistics” – depending on how many hits you get. • Students caught cheating • Plagiarism statistics • Look at your topic and think – what research would BACK UP YOUR POINT OF VIEW. • Point: Colleges are putting too much stress on grades. • Find statistics (research) on “college requirements” “application requirements” “GPA requirements”, etc. • Make your OWN arguments and then back them up. Don’t just look for stories about cheating (though that is good too)

16. Today • Do some preliminary research. • Write down a POSSIBLE topic or two you might be interested in. Turn these in at the end of the block. • Remember while you are working… .com websites are NOT acceptable. Many .orgs are not either. You are looking for quality sources that are credible, reliable (we will explore more).