LibGuides: Research Help: Working With Topics

The Thesis Statement

A Good Thesis Statement

Is one interesting idea.
Expresses your opinion about that idea.
Is specific enough to be explored completely in your paper.
Is a complete sentence with correct punctuation, grammar and usage.

Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements
From OWL, Purdue Online Writing Lab.

The Writing Process

Steps in the Writing Process

Gather ideas.
Arrange the ideas in a logical order.
Write down ideas in sentences and paragraphs.
Check and revise your work.

The Writing Process
A more detailed explanation. From Univ of Arkansas, Little Rock.

Topic Ideas

Essay Topics Generation Tool
Type in your topic and subject area to generate a list of narrower topics.
Idea Generator
Provides topic ideas by subject. From Old Dominion University Library.
Clickable A-Z Topic List
From the RAND Research Corp.
Student Opinion
Popular topics being discussed on campuses across the nation.

Narrowing / Broadening Your Topic

Narrow or Broaden Your Topic
From Georgia Tech Univ

Viable Research Projects

The topic of your research paper may be given to you by your instructor. Or, you may need to come up with one of your own. The links to the left in the Topic Ideas box are good places to start. Don't forget to look at the Table of Contents in your textbook, which may also be helpful in selecting a topic.

Choose a broad topic that interests you, for instance, video games.

Then select a narrower subtopic like violence in video games. The links under Narrowing/Broadening Your Topic can help you drill down to a more specific topic.

The links under The Thesis Statement will help you write a working thesis, which will help you decide on the type and content of your research materials.

Remember, if you have any questions about your topic selection, ask your instructor. Your instructor is the final authority on whether or not a thesis statement is appropriate for the paper he or she has assigned.