The Research Process:
Choosing a Topic

Choosing a topic for research is the first, most difficult, and most important step in the research process. The secret is simple:

Choose a subject that interests you, something that you need to know something about. If you are going to live with this topic for awhile, it needs to pass the "so what?" test.

What are your questions?

The best way to find a subject to investigate is to start by thinking about questions that you have. Look through your books, handouts, and notes. Consider any information related to the assignment. Try to identify a broad focus for preliminary investigation. It may also be helpful to make an appointment with you instructor to discuss topic ideas.

In order to start generating questions, try one of these ideas:

• Freewrite for between five and fifteen minutes on a broad topic. Consider specifically what you want to find out about the topic. Try to develop a list of questions.

• If you are a graphic-thinker, this brainstorming could take the form of a "mind-map" or cluster diagram. The software program Inspiration can be very helpful at this stage.

• You might find it useful to organize your ideas in a KWL table. In this approach, you build a three-column table and record what you already know about the topic and the questions that you have. In the third column, you can record the answers to the questions as you come across them in your overview reading.

Know	Want to Know	Learned