Defining Your Research Topic

Grade: ________ Name: ______________________

 

This assignment will assist you in learning how to pick a research topic, create a thesis statement, and develop a research strategy.

Topics (circle your choice)

Popular Music Genetic Engineering

Criminal Justice K-12 Education

Health Care Gender Issues

  1. Narrow the focus of the broad research topic you selected to a specific issue.

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  2. Write down three questions about this topic that you would like to answer in your research paper.

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  3. Select one (or combine a couple) of the questions above to develop your working thesis statement. Write down a WORKING THESIS STATEMENT. Your final thesis statement will probably change as you find out more about your topic. Remember, your thesis statement should summarize your main idea and present a point of view.

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  4. From what perspective(s) would you approach the topic [humanistic (i.e., religious, ethical, philosophical, cultural), social scientific (i.e., political, economic, sociological, anthropological, legal), scientific (i.e., biological, medical)]?

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  5. Take a look at the questions you wrote down above and your working thesis statement. Identify the main ideas and write them down as keywords.

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  6. Locate two SUBJECT HEADINGS (from the Library of Congress Subject Heading books) on your topic. Write them down.