How to write research paper topics: sample notes by Idea Rover


0000 Thesis statement


0100 Introduction section

0101 Problem

0102 Hypothesis


0200 Second section

0201 First topic

0202 Second topic

0203 Third topic


0300 Third section

0301 First topic

0302 Second topic

0303 Third topic


0400 Conclusion section

0401 Solution

0402 Significance

"Come up with a list of possible topics and try to delete the ones that are too broad or complex for a paper to be completed on."1

"Sit down with a pencil and paper, or at your computer, and write whatever comes into your head about your topic."2

"General topic considerations are: there should be enough information for 20-25 pages and there should be a variety of sources available."3

"The broader your topic is, the more difficult it is to discuss your topic in full details."4

"A narrow, tightly-focussed topic will allow you to get specific and dig into the finer shades of the topic, and finding enough to write about will be no problem."5

"Narrow your topic by limiting it to a specific time period or geographic area."6

"Scholars from different subject fields will approach your topic from different angles and will bring different points of view to bear on the subject."7

"A specialist in genetics will approach the topic genetic engineering of plants differently than a nutritionist, an environmentalist, or an economist."8

"General encyclopedias are a good starting point for your research, but you will need to move on to other types of sources for more detailed treatment of your topic)."9

"For you to be able to come up with a good argumentative topic, remember that you will also have to use that topic to take a stand."10

"This is because taking a stand on an issue of debate will help you to build a perfect topic, will help you understand the argument found in the topic and will help you and your readers clarify every main point in the topic."11

"If you still find it difficult to come up with a topic, you should take a look at headlines of newspapers; listen to news broadcast from televisions and radios or talk with some of your friends."12

"A Working Outline might be only an informal list of topics and subtopics which you are thinking of covering in your paper."13

"A final outline can be written as a topic outline, in which you use only short phrases to suggest ideas, or as a sentence outline, in which you use full sentences (even very brief paragraphs) to show the development of ideas more fully."14

"A good research paper topic should be attention-grabbing, up-to-date, and important for the research paper writer, original and innovative, useful and reasonable."15

"Your thesis statement is what will keep your research and writing on topic."16

"The thesis of your paper should be a declarative sentence that makes an argument of some kind and shows why a topic or idea is significant."17

"Explain briefly the major points you plan to cover in your paper and why readers should be interested in your topic."18

"Each should answer the following questions: What is the purpose of the paper; what subtopics should you cover; and what questions should I answer?"19

"Here you will analyze, synthesize, sort, and digest the information you have gathered and hopefully learn something about your topic which is the real purpose of doing a research paper in the first place."20

"In preparing a research paper, students need to showcase research on topic, adding analysis and assertions to thesis."21

"Inserting quotations, citing authors that bolster your thesis, and presenting a lengthy-but-pertinent bibliography will all help show your professor that you've researched your topic well, assuming that you have, in fact, gathered sufficient research material."22

"Try typing in "influence of the enlightenment on the french revolution" (between quotation marks) in Google and you'll find a ton of papers on this topic other students have written."23

"Your topic must be broad enough to ensure that you have enough data but narrow enough to maximize your time and resources."24

"Your final topic should be a topic in which you can make the strongest argument and put up the most plausible defense."25

"Keep in mind that your research paper topics should be supported by valuable sources (books, online resources, and scientific articles)."26

"Make notes which prove your viewpoint on this particular topic and use quotes to support your major idea."27

"Make a list of things you already know about the topic and a list of questions you would like to answer about the topic."28

"Make a list of keywords related to your topic."29

"Be certain that your topic has a focus and makes a point."30


1 Essay 2 Review Argumentative Research Paper Topics <http://www.essay2review.com/argumentative-research-paper-topics.html>.

2 Homework Center How to Write a Research Paper <http://www.infoplease.com/homework/t2picktopic.html>.

3 Choosing a Research Paper Topic <http://teacher2b.com/non-fiction/topics.htm>.

4 Research Paper Outline Examples - Sample Outlines for Research Papers <http://www.experiment-resources.com/research-paper-outline-examples.html>.

5 Research Paper Assignment <http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303/research.html>.

6 Choosing a Topic <http://www.library.illinois.edu/ugl/howdoi/topic.html>.

7 Choosing a Topic <http://www.library.illinois.edu/ugl/howdoi/topic.html>.

8 Choosing a Topic <http://www.library.illinois.edu/ugl/howdoi/topic.html>.

9 Choosing a Topic <http://www.library.illinois.edu/ugl/howdoi/topic.html>.

10 Essay 2 Review Argumentative Research Paper Topics <http://www.essay2review.com/argumentative-research-paper-topics.html>.

11 Essay 2 Review Argumentative Research Paper Topics <http://www.essay2review.com/argumentative-research-paper-topics.html>.

12 Essay 2 Review Argumentative Research Paper Topics <http://www.essay2review.com/argumentative-research-paper-topics.html>.

13 Guide to Writing Research Papers MLA-Style <http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/mla/outlines.shtml>.

14 Guide to Writing Research Papers MLA-Style <http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/mla/outlines.shtml>.

15 How to Choose a Good Research Paper Topic WriteMyPapers.org <http://www.writemypapers.org/tips-and-prompts/how-to-choose-a-good-research-paper-topics.html>.

16 How to Write a Great Term Paper in One Evening studenthacks.org <http://studenthacks.org/2007/10/30/term-papers/>.

17 MyCollegeSuccessStory.com Research Paper Overview <http://www.mycollegesuccessstory.com/academic-success-tools/research-paper.html>.

18 How to Write an A+ Research Paper <http://www.aresearchguide.com/1steps.html>.

19 Free Research Paper Topic <http://customcollegeessays.com/samples/free-research-paper-topic.html>.

20 How to Write an A+ Research Paper <http://www.aresearchguide.com/1steps.html>.

21 MyCollegeSuccessStory.com Research Paper Overview <http://www.mycollegesuccessstory.com/academic-success-tools/research-paper.html>.

22 MyCollegeSuccessStory.com Research Paper Overview <http://www.mycollegesuccessstory.com/academic-success-tools/research-paper.html>.

23 Research Paper Assignment <http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/hum_303/research.html>.

24 Research Paper Topic Ideas - Get ideas for your research paper <http://www.experiment-resources.com/research-paper-topic-ideas.html>.

25 Essay 2 Review Argumentative Research Paper Topics <http://www.essay2review.com/argumentative-research-paper-topics.html>.

26 Research paper topics <http://www.essay-paper.net/research_paper_topic.html>.

27 Research paper topics <http://www.essay-paper.net/research_paper_topic.html>.

28 Choosing a Topic <http://www.library.illinois.edu/ugl/howdoi/topic.html>.

29 Doing a Research Paper <http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/legacylib/paper.html>.

30 Research Paper Topic Help - Yahoo! Answers <http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100524075614AA5owkQ>.


›› How to write an outline (sample notes).