The most current information about popular, controversial, or straight-from-the-headlines subjects will be in daily and weekly publications (printed and online), like newspapers and news magazines.
When deciding on a topic, you will need to:
- brainstorm for ideas
- choose a topic that is important to you
- ensure that the topic is manageable and that material is available
- make a list of key words
- be flexible
- define your topic as a focused research question
- research and read more about your topic
- formulate a thesis statement
Remember, selecting a good topic may not be easy. It must be narrow and focused enough to be interesting, yet broad enough to find adequate information. Before determining your topic, make sure you know what your final project should look like. Each class or instructor will likely require a different format or style of research project.