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Finding a topic for your paper. Remember Writing Territories?. 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.
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Finding a topic for your paper Remember Writing Territories?
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.
Risk/Originality! • Overdone topics = annoying to those who listen to year in and year out. • Unless you can add a PERSONAL SPIN… • 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, risky topic. Boundaries exist, but choosing a controversial/taboo topic can instantly draw in your audience.
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!
Can it be researched? • It is difficult to cite anything when sources are near non-existence. • 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.
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.
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!
Some I could think of…(or stole from debate) • Is the Confederate Flag Racist? • Americans are stupid. • Is it necessary to cheat your way through school? • 16 and NOT pregnant! • I’m a teen, not a criminal: Changing perceptions of teens. • Think of you.. What you like, what you’re into…
Here’s some goodies… • Racial profiling is a legitimate law-enforcement policy. • The “White”-centric world we live in. • Pay me what I’m worth – equally the “gender gap” in pay. • Are homosexual characters appropriate in daytime TV? • High school classes should be separated by gender.
More goodies… • Get Your Business Out of My Sports! • Let the rich eat my taxes! • Literature today is still same-old, same-old (gender issues) • Martha Stewart was persecuted • Or.. Increased punishment for “white-collar” crimes. • European systems (pick education, health care, etc) are better. • TV is NOT me. • Female stereotypes are well-deserved. • Becoming Amish and other ways to get around taxes
Overdone • Abortion • Gay marriage/adoption • Media stereotypes • Eating disorders • Steroids • Death penalty. • Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.. I’m sorry I fell asleep!