Choosing and Narrowing a Topic
to Write About
for research papers
Alex Bruno
University of El Salvador
writing about anything
academic freedom can be
hard to put into practice
the struggle to find a topic
can make writing seem more
like a drudgery than an act of
discovery
take a moment, clear your
mind, and try out this method
of choosing a topic
six steps
1 2 3 4 5 6
step 1: choose a topic
video games
step 2: be a little more specific
video games and
learning
step 3: be even a little more specific
first person shooter video
games and their effect on
learning behavior
step 4: change any vague words and make
them more specific
first person shooter games and
their effect on the ability of
adolescents to learn how to
socialize with their peers
step 5: write a complete sentence
The effect of first person
shooter games affects the
ability of adolescents to learn
positive social behaviors.
step 6: write a complete (and arguable)
sentence
When played in peer groups, first
person shoot video games
significantly influence the ability of
adolescents to develop and enhance
positive group social behavior.
t | o | p | i | c

Choosing a topic

  • 1.
    Choosing and Narrowinga Topic to Write About for research papers Alex Bruno University of El Salvador
  • 2.
  • 3.
    academic freedom canbe hard to put into practice
  • 4.
    the struggle tofind a topic can make writing seem more like a drudgery than an act of discovery
  • 5.
    take a moment,clear your mind, and try out this method of choosing a topic
  • 6.
  • 7.
    step 1: choosea topic video games
  • 8.
    step 2: bea little more specific video games and learning
  • 9.
    step 3: beeven a little more specific first person shooter video games and their effect on learning behavior
  • 10.
    step 4: changeany vague words and make them more specific first person shooter games and their effect on the ability of adolescents to learn how to socialize with their peers
  • 11.
    step 5: writea complete sentence The effect of first person shooter games affects the ability of adolescents to learn positive social behaviors.
  • 12.
    step 6: writea complete (and arguable) sentence When played in peer groups, first person shoot video games significantly influence the ability of adolescents to develop and enhance positive group social behavior.
  • 13.
    t | o| p | i | c

Editor's Notes

  • #3 For some people, choosing a topic to write about is simple. For others, choosing a topic to write about can be incredibly difficult, and even painful. This is especially true if you start a research project without knowing what you want to write about. It ’s easy when your instructor gives you a prompt question or some kind of theme to get you moving. But what happens when you have the freedom to write an evidence-based essay on anything you like? Academic freedom can have its consequences... If you are one of those writers that spends a lot of time choosing a topic, and then even when you choose a topic you feel uncertain that it ’s good enough, the process described in this learning packet is something that might help. The process asks you to take six steps. These steps begin by asking you to start with a topic. The second step is to describe it a little more specifically. The third step is to write a phrase (it doesn ’t need to be complete) and be even more specific. If you have gotten as far as the third step, you are close. The fourth step is to change any vague words or phrases and make them more specific. The fifth step is to turn what you have so far into a complete sentence. The sixth and final step is to make the sentence arguable. By this time you should have a sentence that you can use to write a first draft or perhaps streamline your research efforts. For best results, try using this method several times so that you can choose between different topics. The main idea is to break down general topics into smaller, more detailed, and more manageable topic areas that make more sense.
  • #4 For some people, choosing a topic to write about is simple. For others, choosing a topic to write about can be incredibly difficult, and even painful. This is especially true if you start a research project without knowing what you want to write about. It ’s easy when your instructor gives you a prompt question or some kind of theme to get you moving. But what happens when you have the freedom to write an evidence-based essay on anything you like? Academic freedom can have its consequences... If you are one of those writers that spends a lot of time choosing a topic, and then even when you choose a topic you feel uncertain that it ’s good enough, the process described in this learning packet is something that might help. The process asks you to take six steps. These steps begin by asking you to start with a topic. The second step is to describe it a little more specifically. The third step is to write a phrase (it doesn ’t need to be complete) and be even more specific. If you have gotten as far as the third step, you are close. The fourth step is to change any vague words or phrases and make them more specific. The fifth step is to turn what you have so far into a complete sentence. The sixth and final step is to make the sentence arguable. By this time you should have a sentence that you can use to write a first draft or perhaps streamline your research efforts. For best results, try using this method several times so that you can choose between different topics. The main idea is to break down general topics into smaller, more detailed, and more manageable topic areas that make more sense.
  • #5 For some people, choosing a topic to write about is simple. For others, choosing a topic to write about can be incredibly difficult, and even painful. This is especially true if you start a research project without knowing what you want to write about. It ’s easy when your instructor gives you a prompt question or some kind of theme to get you moving. But what happens when you have the freedom to write an evidence-based essay on anything you like? Academic freedom can have its consequences... If you are one of those writers that spends a lot of time choosing a topic, and then even when you choose a topic you feel uncertain that it ’s good enough, the process described in this learning packet is something that might help. The process asks you to take six steps. These steps begin by asking you to start with a topic. The second step is to describe it a little more specifically. The third step is to write a phrase (it doesn ’t need to be complete) and be even more specific. If you have gotten as far as the third step, you are close. The fourth step is to change any vague words or phrases and make them more specific. The fifth step is to turn what you have so far into a complete sentence. The sixth and final step is to make the sentence arguable. By this time you should have a sentence that you can use to write a first draft or perhaps streamline your research efforts. For best results, try using this method several times so that you can choose between different topics. The main idea is to break down general topics into smaller, more detailed, and more manageable topic areas that make more sense.
  • #6 For some people, choosing a topic to write about is simple. For others, choosing a topic to write about can be incredibly difficult, and even painful. This is especially true if you start a research project without knowing what you want to write about. It ’s easy when your instructor gives you a prompt question or some kind of theme to get you moving. But what happens when you have the freedom to write an evidence-based essay on anything you like? Academic freedom can have its consequences... If you are one of those writers that spends a lot of time choosing a topic, and then even when you choose a topic you feel uncertain that it ’s good enough, the process described in this learning packet is something that might help. The process asks you to take six steps. These steps begin by asking you to start with a topic. The second step is to describe it a little more specifically. The third step is to write a phrase (it doesn ’t need to be complete) and be even more specific. If you have gotten as far as the third step, you are close. The fourth step is to change any vague words or phrases and make them more specific. The fifth step is to turn what you have so far into a complete sentence. The sixth and final step is to make the sentence arguable. By this time you should have a sentence that you can use to write a first draft or perhaps streamline your research efforts. For best results, try using this method several times so that you can choose between different topics. The main idea is to break down general topics into smaller, more detailed, and more manageable topic areas that make more sense.
  • #7 For some people, choosing a topic to write about is simple. For others, choosing a topic to write about can be incredibly difficult, and even painful. This is especially true if you start a research project without knowing what you want to write about. It ’s easy when your instructor gives you a prompt question or some kind of theme to get you moving. But what happens when you have the freedom to write an evidence-based essay on anything you like? Academic freedom can have its consequences... If you are one of those writers that spends a lot of time choosing a topic, and then even when you choose a topic you feel uncertain that it ’s good enough, the process described in this learning packet is something that might help. The process asks you to take six steps. These steps begin by asking you to start with a topic. The second step is to describe it a little more specifically. The third step is to write a phrase (it doesn ’t need to be complete) and be even more specific. If you have gotten as far as the third step, you are close. The fourth step is to change any vague words or phrases and make them more specific. The fifth step is to turn what you have so far into a complete sentence. The sixth and final step is to make the sentence arguable. By this time you should have a sentence that you can use to write a first draft or perhaps streamline your research efforts. For best results, try using this method several times so that you can choose between different topics. The main idea is to break down general topics into smaller, more detailed, and more manageable topic areas that make more sense.
  • #8 For some people, choosing a topic to write about is simple. For others, choosing a topic to write about can be incredibly difficult, and even painful. This is especially true if you start a research project without knowing what you want to write about. It ’s easy when your instructor gives you a prompt question or some kind of theme to get you moving. But what happens when you have the freedom to write an evidence-based essay on anything you like? Academic freedom can have its consequences... If you are one of those writers that spends a lot of time choosing a topic, and then even when you choose a topic you feel uncertain that it ’s good enough, the process described in this learning packet is something that might help. The process asks you to take six steps. These steps begin by asking you to start with a topic. The second step is to describe it a little more specifically. The third step is to write a phrase (it doesn ’t need to be complete) and be even more specific. If you have gotten as far as the third step, you are close. The fourth step is to change any vague words or phrases and make them more specific. The fifth step is to turn what you have so far into a complete sentence. The sixth and final step is to make the sentence arguable. By this time you should have a sentence that you can use to write a first draft or perhaps streamline your research efforts. For best results, try using this method several times so that you can choose between different topics. The main idea is to break down general topics into smaller, more detailed, and more manageable topic areas that make more sense.
  • #9 For some people, choosing a topic to write about is simple. For others, choosing a topic to write about can be incredibly difficult, and even painful. This is especially true if you start a research project without knowing what you want to write about. It ’s easy when your instructor gives you a prompt question or some kind of theme to get you moving. But what happens when you have the freedom to write an evidence-based essay on anything you like? Academic freedom can have its consequences... If you are one of those writers that spends a lot of time choosing a topic, and then even when you choose a topic you feel uncertain that it ’s good enough, the process described in this learning packet is something that might help. The process asks you to take six steps. These steps begin by asking you to start with a topic. The second step is to describe it a little more specifically. The third step is to write a phrase (it doesn ’t need to be complete) and be even more specific. If you have gotten as far as the third step, you are close. The fourth step is to change any vague words or phrases and make them more specific. The fifth step is to turn what you have so far into a complete sentence. The sixth and final step is to make the sentence arguable. By this time you should have a sentence that you can use to write a first draft or perhaps streamline your research efforts. For best results, try using this method several times so that you can choose between different topics. The main idea is to break down general topics into smaller, more detailed, and more manageable topic areas that make more sense.
  • #10 For some people, choosing a topic to write about is simple. For others, choosing a topic to write about can be incredibly difficult, and even painful. This is especially true if you start a research project without knowing what you want to write about. It ’s easy when your instructor gives you a prompt question or some kind of theme to get you moving. But what happens when you have the freedom to write an evidence-based essay on anything you like? Academic freedom can have its consequences... If you are one of those writers that spends a lot of time choosing a topic, and then even when you choose a topic you feel uncertain that it ’s good enough, the process described in this learning packet is something that might help. The process asks you to take six steps. These steps begin by asking you to start with a topic. The second step is to describe it a little more specifically. The third step is to write a phrase (it doesn ’t need to be complete) and be even more specific. If you have gotten as far as the third step, you are close. The fourth step is to change any vague words or phrases and make them more specific. The fifth step is to turn what you have so far into a complete sentence. The sixth and final step is to make the sentence arguable. By this time you should have a sentence that you can use to write a first draft or perhaps streamline your research efforts. For best results, try using this method several times so that you can choose between different topics. The main idea is to break down general topics into smaller, more detailed, and more manageable topic areas that make more sense.
  • #11 For some people, choosing a topic to write about is simple. For others, choosing a topic to write about can be incredibly difficult, and even painful. This is especially true if you start a research project without knowing what you want to write about. It ’s easy when your instructor gives you a prompt question or some kind of theme to get you moving. But what happens when you have the freedom to write an evidence-based essay on anything you like? Academic freedom can have its consequences... If you are one of those writers that spends a lot of time choosing a topic, and then even when you choose a topic you feel uncertain that it ’s good enough, the process described in this learning packet is something that might help. The process asks you to take six steps. These steps begin by asking you to start with a topic. The second step is to describe it a little more specifically. The third step is to write a phrase (it doesn ’t need to be complete) and be even more specific. If you have gotten as far as the third step, you are close. The fourth step is to change any vague words or phrases and make them more specific. The fifth step is to turn what you have so far into a complete sentence. The sixth and final step is to make the sentence arguable. By this time you should have a sentence that you can use to write a first draft or perhaps streamline your research efforts. For best results, try using this method several times so that you can choose between different topics. The main idea is to break down general topics into smaller, more detailed, and more manageable topic areas that make more sense.
  • #12 For some people, choosing a topic to write about is simple. For others, choosing a topic to write about can be incredibly difficult, and even painful. This is especially true if you start a research project without knowing what you want to write about. It ’s easy when your instructor gives you a prompt question or some kind of theme to get you moving. But what happens when you have the freedom to write an evidence-based essay on anything you like? Academic freedom can have its consequences... If you are one of those writers that spends a lot of time choosing a topic, and then even when you choose a topic you feel uncertain that it ’s good enough, the process described in this learning packet is something that might help. The process asks you to take six steps. These steps begin by asking you to start with a topic. The second step is to describe it a little more specifically. The third step is to write a phrase (it doesn ’t need to be complete) and be even more specific. If you have gotten as far as the third step, you are close. The fourth step is to change any vague words or phrases and make them more specific. The fifth step is to turn what you have so far into a complete sentence. The sixth and final step is to make the sentence arguable. By this time you should have a sentence that you can use to write a first draft or perhaps streamline your research efforts. For best results, try using this method several times so that you can choose between different topics. The main idea is to break down general topics into smaller, more detailed, and more manageable topic areas that make more sense.
  • #13 For some people, choosing a topic to write about is simple. For others, choosing a topic to write about can be incredibly difficult, and even painful. This is especially true if you start a research project without knowing what you want to write about. It ’s easy when your instructor gives you a prompt question or some kind of theme to get you moving. But what happens when you have the freedom to write an evidence-based essay on anything you like? Academic freedom can have its consequences... If you are one of those writers that spends a lot of time choosing a topic, and then even when you choose a topic you feel uncertain that it ’s good enough, the process described in this learning packet is something that might help. The process asks you to take six steps. These steps begin by asking you to start with a topic. The second step is to describe it a little more specifically. The third step is to write a phrase (it doesn ’t need to be complete) and be even more specific. If you have gotten as far as the third step, you are close. The fourth step is to change any vague words or phrases and make them more specific. The fifth step is to turn what you have so far into a complete sentence. The sixth and final step is to make the sentence arguable. By this time you should have a sentence that you can use to write a first draft or perhaps streamline your research efforts. For best results, try using this method several times so that you can choose between different topics. The main idea is to break down general topics into smaller, more detailed, and more manageable topic areas that make more sense.
  • #14 For some people, choosing a topic to write about is simple. For others, choosing a topic to write about can be incredibly difficult, and even painful. This is especially true if you start a research project without knowing what you want to write about. It ’s easy when your instructor gives you a prompt question or some kind of theme to get you moving. But what happens when you have the freedom to write an evidence-based essay on anything you like? Academic freedom can have its consequences... If you are one of those writers that spends a lot of time choosing a topic, and then even when you choose a topic you feel uncertain that it ’s good enough, the process described in this learning packet is something that might help. The process asks you to take six steps. These steps begin by asking you to start with a topic. The second step is to describe it a little more specifically. The third step is to write a phrase (it doesn ’t need to be complete) and be even more specific. If you have gotten as far as the third step, you are close. The fourth step is to change any vague words or phrases and make them more specific. The fifth step is to turn what you have so far into a complete sentence. The sixth and final step is to make the sentence arguable. By this time you should have a sentence that you can use to write a first draft or perhaps streamline your research efforts. For best results, try using this method several times so that you can choose between different topics. The main idea is to break down general topics into smaller, more detailed, and more manageable topic areas that make more sense.