Students lay prostrate in the library--on books, in aisles, on tables, at computers. The librarian fled in fear. Because eighty-four percent of the affected students attended my English classes, the principal called me in for questioning. Sitting with her was an expert on students passing out in the library.
"So, Mr. L__________, What may have caused this outbreak?" asked the investigator.
"I don't know," I responded, "They were all in class yesterday when I assigned the research paper--"
"So, you assigned a research paper? Did you go through the selection of a research topic or help them discover interesting writing topics or teach students to do research?"
"Ummm. No, sir. I just fig--"
"You just figured they'd find interesting topics on their own, and therefore, you said nothing about the selection of a research topic, or how to do research or its importance. And now we have an epidemic of students near death."
The principal fired me on the spot and gave my replacement a "Selection of a Research Topic: Helping Students Create Interesting Writing Topics and how to teach students to do research" guide.
I broke into my classroom a few days later and stole it from him. I can't teach it, but you can.
Since your students will be spending a great deal of time researching and studying a topic, be sure it interests them. If not, the researcher and his/her readers will get bored quickly. Here are some tips:
- Get an overview of the subject by doing some reading (In most cases, class time will have been spent on the subject being researched):
- Read encyclopedia entries on the subject.
- Skim a review text and note relevant chapters and headings.
- Look at book titles on the subject.
- Understand the overall picture from the overview reading:
- Don't get bogged down in the details and overlook the obvious.
- Ask yourself what most people already know about the subject.
- Identify why the subject is important.
- Answer the questions who, what when, where, why, how, and how much.
Finding "hot topics" in your subject area may lead the researcher into potentially interesting topics. Scan newspapers, magazines, scholarly journals, the Internet, and TV programs to find what has caught the public's attention. Here are some tips for finding an interesting writing topic:
- Controversy: All essays and research papers take a stand for or against something. An ongoing controversy provides interest for readers and writers.
- Catchwords or cliches: Writers repeat old arguments, old problems, and old solutions without re-examing the facts. A new approach to an old topic might prove interesting.
- Unexplored topics: Many subjects contain unexplored topics. Look for unexplored topics and give readers a new angle.
- Subject Authorities: Find out who the authorities are on the subject and find out what they're saying or writing about. These authorities can give neophyte writers interesting ideas.
After the general research is complete, researchers should ask themselves the following questions:
- Which topics are least and most interesting?
- What doesn't make sense?
- Do you agree or disagree with the "authorities"?
- How much of the information is conditioned by earlier assumptions and attitudes.
- What questions need answered?
- Are there any interesting controversies?
- Is there a topic not fully explored?
After going through this checklist, writers should identify their topic, create an effective thesis statement, and begin their topic-specific research.
