How to Come Up With Research Paper Topics
Research papers often elicit sighs, groans and dread in those assigned to write them. The first step to overcome is generating research topics to choose from. Are you racking your brain to try to come up with research paper topics? Are you drawing a blank? Following this simple, step-by-step process you can come up with interesting topics for your research paper.
Instructions
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Consider the reason you are writing the research paper. Is it for a class? If so, try to stick to research topics that revolve around the lessons you are learning. For example, write a paper about global warming for a science class. Is the paper part of a scholarship application or contest? If so, choose a topic that the people judging your paper will likely find of interest. For example, write a paper about recession for a business college scholarship.
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Browse newspapers and the Internet for current events to research and write about. Has a recent United States Supreme Court decision caused controversy? Are the actions of a foreign country creating conflict overseas? Choosing a current event to write about ensures that your paper will be fresh and original.
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Brainstorm issues that interest you. Write a list of the top 10 topics you can think of and then do some brief research on the Internet. Nearly any topic can be the basis of a research paper so don't be afraid to explore the ideas and issues you love. For example, do you like to use Twitter? If so, you can write about how the company began and quickly rose from a small social website to a major networking tool used by everyone from the President of the United States to professional athletes.
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Pick a topic that you already need to know detailed information about to kill two birds with one stone. For example, if you plan to apply to graduate school, write your research paper about the benefits of post-graudate education and include discussion about the best schools in each area of study.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid topics that appear boring to you. If you don't want to write about the topic, chances are that not many people want to read about it.
References
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