2. Working with Topics
“In many college classes, the
topic of your writing projects
will be determined by the
subject matter of the class and
the directions of the
instructor.”
This often happens in beginning
'101' classes, where your
instructor will provide a list of
approved topics, for example.
Chapter 5, Krause, TPWR
This can make your task easy.
However you must stay within
the requirements of the topic
given by the professor.
3. Working with Topics
If you are required to write a research paper for your
political science class that focuses on the effects of
nationalism, chances are an essay on the relaxation
benefits of trout fishing would not be welcomed!
Chapter 5, Krause, TPWR
4. A Few Questions for Instructor Topics
What is the purpose and who is the audience for the
essay you are being asked to write?
What do you think about the topic?
How much “room” is there within the assigned topic
for more specialized focuses?
Chapter 5, Krause, TPWR
5. Topics Based on Readings
Does the assignment ask students to do additional
research, or does it ask students to focus on the
readings assigned in class?
--- you may be assigned a topic based on readings in your
text or another text. In that case often the instructor will
have very specific instructions for the assignment
6. Coming up with your own idea
At other times, instructors allow students to pick a topic
for their research-based writing projects.
9. Avoid Some Topic Types
However, rarely do instructors allow their students to
write research-based essays on anything for a lot of good
reasons.
Some ideas don’t lend
themselves to academic
research writing
A semester often too
short to deal
adequately with these
12. You want a topic that:
Meets the goals of the assignment
Is researchable
A topic you are interested in learning more about
13. Developing a Working Thesis
Sometimes, the subject of your research is called a
“research question” or “problem statement.”
A working thesis is tentative in that it will inevitably
change as you go through the process of writing and
researching.
14. Often topics are very broad, two-three words or a phrase.
Even if you begin with a ‘good’ topic, part of your
assignment is to narrow the topic down, finding a specific
aspect to work with
15. Using Questions to Begin Investigating Your Topic
What subject area or discipline does my topic fit into?
What do I know about it? What don't I know?
When. What time period do I want to cover?
Where. On what geographic region do I want to focus?
How do events happen in my topic [through
legal/personal motivations?]
16. Factual Questions
These are factual questions that can be looked up on
Google, the web, or perhaps an encyclopedia or dictionary
What is the magnitude of the
largest earthquake ever recorded?
Who was the first President of the
United States?
When was the Declaration of
Independence written?
A Factual Question is not a Thesis Statement
17. A More Complex Question
What is the moment magnitude scale, and how does it
compare to the Richter scale
A bit more in depth answer needed but answer
can be found usually in an encyclopedia or
dictionary
19. Thesis Statements
From Classroom.synonym.com:
Most good, well-organized writing will contain a thesis
statement near the beginning of the essay or paper and
will repeat it at the end of the work.
The thesis statement tells your audience what you plan to
talk about or prove, serving as a preview to the rest of
your work.
Thesis statements take a position on a debatable topic or
make a statement of information, and then the rest of the
paper proves the position or provides more detailed
information.
https://classroom.synonym.com/difference-between-thesis-statement-research-question-1830.html
20. Research Question or Thesis Statement?
Sometimes these seem to be interchangeable. You will
encounter thesis statements when making a statement
about your topic, or taking a position
A Research Question is seen more often when asking open
ended questions, or in classes where the effect of some
phenomena is examined
https://classroom.synonym.com/difference-between-thesis-statement-research-question-1830.html
21. Research Questions
While most quality writing will naturally contain a thesis
statement, only certain kinds of writing will contain one
or more research questions.
Research studies, like the kind that appear in academic
journals and scientific research publications, usually seek
to discover new information about a little known topic.
The purpose of the research question is to tell your reader
what you are after as you dive into your investigation. A
research question must be debatable but should be an
open question rather than one that takes a position.
https://classroom.synonym.com/difference-between-thesis-statement-research-question-1830.html
22. Websites
Difference Between Thesis Statements/Research
Questions
https://classroom.synonym.com/difference-between-thesis-statement-
research-question-1830.html
Thesis Statements/Research Questions
http://library.royalroads.ca/writing-centre/writing/structure/thesis-
statements
What is the difference between thesis and research
question?
https://apus.libanswers.com/writing/faq/102559
