Choice of Topics:
Some of the ways a student can find ideas for topics for research
papers:
1. Professors’ suggestions or requirements
2. Reading current news magazines and newspapers or professional
journals for topics of interest
3. Connecting to databases that explore controversial topics like
Opposing Viewpoints, CQ Researcher, and Issues and
Controversies if you are doing a “pro-con” paper
4. Personal interests as when someone who has lived some time in
another country like Japan decides to do a paper on the samurai or
Kabuki Theater. An area in which the student wishes to increase
knowledge works well also, e.g. ancient Peruvian ruins of Machu Picchu
for a future anthropologist of archaeologist.
There are many types of research papers. Some types of research papers
can be:
1. Analytic Purdue Owl types of research paper
2. Compare and contrast UNC at Chapel Hill The Writing Center
3. Argumentative/Persuasive UNC at Chapel Hill The Writing
Center
4. Cause and Effect Butte College Cause and Effect Tip Sheet
All research papers need a thesis statement or main theme/focus
presented as a statement at the beginning of the paper. The content of
the paper will support the thesis.
Sample Assignment: Explore an aspect of Immigration, Fast Food,
Obesity in America, etc.. in a 1000 word research paper.
Example:
 Define and do a mind map of aspects of Illegal Immigration,
Adoption, Animal Experimentation, or other broad topics
o Mind Map Interactive Arizona State

Choose an aspect of the topic to research. Examples: Impact of illegal
immigration on availability of jobs, Success or failure of
Immigration Department in keeping illegal immigrants out of the
country, The viability of fence along the Mexican border and its
effects on the relationship between the United States and
Mexico, etc.
o Identifies key concepts and terms that describe the
information need (Standard One)

State the aspect of the topic that you choose as a question.
o Example: Do illegal immigrants take jobs and prevent
American citizens from getting much needed employment?

Do a mind map of words to search: “illegal immigrants” “illegal
aliens,” jobs, employment, Mexico

Use your keywords that you will use to research the topic
o First do preliminary research on your topic
o Utilize Reference books and a subscription database for basic
type articles. Look for more keywords and be certain that
your point of view is supported!
o Explores general information sources to increase
familiarity with the topic (Standard One)
a. Defines or modifies the information need to achieve a
manageable focus (Standard One)
b. Write a thesis statement concerning one aspect of Illegal
Immigration or other topics. (Standard One)
c. UNC Chapel Hill Definition of a thesis statement Develops a thesis
statement and formulates questions based on the information need

o Get in touch with your professor for guidance about your focused
topic and thesis statement
o Confers with instructors and participates in class
discussions, peer workgroups, and electronic discussions to
identify a research topic, or other information need

Steps for Research
o Decide what types of sources your need for your research:
books, magazine, newspaper, journal articles, Internet web
resources.
 Is it a current issue or medical topic where you need the
most updated information?
 Will books give you more detail that is needed in
understanding your topic?
 Do you need scholarly information about your topic or
will feature news stories be useful?
 Do you need statistics (Government website statistics
can be excellent)?
 Do you need primary sources Examples: (first hand
data from a study or first-hand accounts of an event)

More Hands on:
Now Choose a broad topic for research from among these:





Adoption
Animal Experimentation
Cloning
Statewide testing in Schools
Global Warming

What are some subtopics of your overall subject that
you can research?

Which aspect of your topic is your narrowed focus?

Do a mind map of search words you will use to search
for information on your topic.

Create a question about your sub-topic that helps you
focus what you plan to discuss in your paper.

Write a thesis statement on your topic.

Do preliminary research on your narrowed topic. Give
any additional search words that you find.

Is your thesis statement tenable? Is there evidence that
supports your conclusion?

Find 5 reliable resources that give information about
your narrowed topic.

Evaluate each resource that you read for authorship,
currency, bias, and pertinence to your topic. Give the
main points each resource provided for your research.
o Write an introductory paragraph with the main points
concerning your topic that you plan to explicate in a full
research paper on the topic.
Marian Smith’s Rubric:
Standard One – The information literate student determines the nature and extent of the
information needed.
Performance Indicator 1
The information literate student defines and articulates the need for information.
Outcomes include: Emerging
Developing
Proficient
Exemplary
a. Confers with
Defines a
Research topic
Defines a
Defines a focused
instructors and
research topic
needs more
focused
research topic
participates in
with instructor’s focus
research topic
relevant to the
class discussions,
assistance
assignment
peer workgroups,
and electronic
discussions to
identify a research
topic, or other
information need
b. Develops a
Thesis
Thesis
Develops a
Develops a thesis
thesis statement
statement too
statement
thesis
statement and
and formulates
broad for
needs
statement and
research
questions based
assignment
refinement
research
questions aimed
on the information
questions
at the creation of
need
new (for the
student)
knowledge
c. Explores general Little evidence
Consults
Consults
Consults
information
of use of
background
relevant
authoritative
sources to
increase familiarity
with the topic
d. Defines or
modifies the
information need
to achieve a
manageable focus
e. Identifies key
concepts and
terms that
describe the
information need
background
materials
Modifies
information
need with
instructor’s
assistance
Demonstrates
use of broad
key terms and
concepts for
use in seeking
information
f. Recognizes that
Restates
existing
position stated
information can be in resources
combined with
original thought,
experimentation,
and/or analysis to
produce new
information
materials as
needed
background
materials as
needed
background
materials as
needed
Demonstrates
use of key
terms
Demonstrates
refinement of
key terms,
synonyms and
research
questions
Demonstrates
analysis of
existing
information to
produce new
information
Combines
existing
information
with analysis
and original
thought to
produce new
information
Demonstrates
refinement of
discipline-specific
key terms,
synonyms,
research
questions and
topic as needed
Combines in
existing
information with
original thought,
experimentation
and analysis to
produce new
information