Find Your Research Topic – From Interests to Issues
Purpose: This activity helps you brainstorm and narrow down a research topic that
matters to you personally and socially. It also guides you to identify who has the power
to create change in that area—your target audience for Essay 3.
Step 1 → Brainstorm Interests
List 3–5 topics or areas you care about. These can relate to personal experiences,
social justice, media, education, politics, technology, or anything you’re curious or
passionate about.
1. Social media
2. Education
3. Politics
4.
5.
Step 2 → Why Does It Matter?
Pick one topic from above and explore:
● What is the specific issue or debate within this topic?
● Who is affected by this issue?
● Why is it personally important to you?
● What questions do you have about it?
Write your answers below:
● Overuse of social media, spreading misinformation, bullying, or trying to harm
others, and causing mental health issues.
●
Almost everyone who uses social media is affected by this issue but in most
cases they are teenagers and young adults.
● It's important to me because social media influences the mental health and
relationships of a person I care about. Sometimes, it also spreads wrong
information.
● How to use it in a healthy way?
Does social media affect how people think and make decisions?
How to reduce its harmful effects?
Step 3 → Who Has Power Here?
Think about people or institutions who could make decisions, change policies, or
influence this issue.
● Who might have the power to address this issue?
● Who would be a realistic and relevant audience for your persuasive letter?
Potential audiences:
1. i) Government and lawmakers, such as, the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) or Congress.
ii) Social media companies like Facebook, TiKTok and Twitter etc.
2. i) Executives of social media company, who have direct control over policies
and user protection.
ii) Policymakers, such as legislature, governor or mayor. And government
officials, such as agency head, commissioners or regulators, who can
implement law and regulation related to social media.
Step 4 → Draft Your Working Research Question
Use everything above to write a debatable question that you might explore in your letter.
Try to make it open-ended (not yes/no), specific, and arguable.
Example: What steps should universities take to support students’ mental health on
campus?
Your question: