As a student at Fresno State, you will be doing research for many papers, group reports and speeches. Sometimes your instructor will provide you with the topic, but other times you will choose your own. Choosing a workable topic is a very important step in the research process.

Why? If you choose a topic that is too narrow or too specific, you may not find enough documentation (books, articles, web sites) for your research. But if your topic is too broad, you will find too many resources and will have a difficult time sorting through and evaluating what you find.

Tips for Choosing a Topic  

• Choose a topic that you find interesting.
  You will be spending a lot of time researching and writing it, and a topic that interests you will make the process more enjoyable.
• Pick a controversial issue that you are passionate about.
  A hot topic for a speech or persuasive paper that interests you will make the research appealing.
• Select a topic with multi-purpose research potential.
  Is it possible to research different aspects of the same subject for different classes? You can't turn in the same paper for two different classes, but you can develop expertise in an area and explore different topics within that area.
• Choose a topic that relates to your personal interests or future profession.
  If you are writing a persuasive paper on a topic of your choice can you tie it into your major so that the research will have a future benefit to you? This will add value to the research process.
• Decide on a unique or original topic. Put your own spin on it!
  Imagine your professor reading 25 papers on the same topics year after year. An original topic or perspective will be welcomed favorably!

Also, be sure to: 

• Make sure your topic meets the assignment requirements. If you are unsure, ask your professor for feedback.
• Choose a topic that others have written about in order to find enough resources.
• Consider the scope of your topic. Is it too broad or too narrow?

Try these strategies for developing an effective research question:

• Background research will help you learn more about your topic, find keywords, and refine your research question.   
• Brainstorm related concepts and keywords. For example, if your topic is "steroids in sports,"  write down synonymous words or related topics: performance-enhancing drugs, performance-enhancing substances, anabolic steroids, drug-use in sports, etc... Do a quick search on Wikipedia or another online site to see what other terms are associated with a topic.   
• Limit your scope to manage your research. If you use a historical angle, then focus on a particular time period; for a geographical angle, focus on a particular part of the world; or a sociological angle, focus on a particular group of people.  
• Start exploratory, in-depth research. As you start in-depth research, look for scholarly articles and books, then refine your topic based on what you find. Research is a dynamic process!

This topic development flowchart follows the path of your topic ideas to background research to the formulation of your topic question then to in-depth research and your research thesis or the answers to your research question:

Here's a video that might help, too. 

Where to Get Topic Ideas

• Talk to your instructor. 
• Read through your course readings and class notes for ideas.
• Wikipedia and Google searches are great for brainstorming key words and narrowing your topic, but aren't usually good sources for information 
• Books are an excellent resource for background information (articles are typically much more narrowly focused).
• Reference books and databases such as Gale Virtual Reference Library and Oxford Reference Online.
• The Opposing Viewpoints and CQ Researcher databases can also be good for background information on controversial topics. 
• Research Guides, created by Fresno State librarians, identify subject encyclopedias, books, databases, and other scholarly materials.
• Ask a librarian! Librarians are available via email, 24/7 chat, phone, and in-person at the Research Help Desk.