A college-level research paper is significantly longer and more analytical than a high school paper, requiring a well-thought-out thesis and diverse sources. Students often struggle to choose topics but can seek advice from family, reflect on personal interests, and conduct preliminary research. Strategies for topic selection include discussing ideas in groups, brainstorming, and narrowing down broad topics based on available resources.

1. Image from Cagle Post, http://www.cagle.com/
Curiosity: brainstorming and
finding a research topic.

2. What is a college-level research
paper?
"Honestly I don't know."

3. What is a college-level research
paper?

4. What is a college-level research
paper?
Trends in your responses:
● It is longer and more in depth than a HS
paper.
● It is more analytical and thesis driven than
a HS paper.
● It draws from a variety of sources, both
primary and secondary.
● It is centered on a specific, "dense" topic.

5. What is a college-level research
paper?
"A college-level research paper involves
utilizing all the resources available to the
student. At Windward we are usually told
where to look for information and 'directed'
on the right track for information. In college
you are on your own."

6. What is a college-level research
paper?
"A college level research paper usually will add
a new, creative idea to a topic. It includes a
well thought out thesis with a specific question
that can be easily researched."

7. What is a college-level research
paper?
"A college-level research paper is much longer
and much more detailed than a normal paper at
Windward. Also, it requires more citations
and footnotes than other papers."

8. What is a college-level research
paper?
"It is longer and forces you to incorporate
your own ideas with a wide variety of valid
sources."

9. What strategies might you use to
choose a research topic?

10. What strategies might you use to
choose a research topic?
Talk to people:
"First, ask my parents and family members. Research
some of their ideas that i thought were good."
"I am not sure how I am going to choose my topic, but I
assume that I will be interested in a topic that comes up in
a conversation in class."

11. What strategies might you use to
choose a research topic?
Consider your interests:
"1 step: find something that's wholly stimulating."
"I would try and remember what sparked my interested in
past history courses or in current events. Then I might do
some background research on that topic to see if it is a
possible subject."

12. What strategies might you use to
choose a research topic?
Do background research to determine if the
topic will work for you:
"I will choose a broad topic I know I am interested in and
then narrow it down based on the availability of resources."
"Think about your interests and do some pre-research. "

13. Starting Broad, Ending Narrow
Brainstorm as a group:
What are general topic areas that a person
might choose to explore in his or her research?

14. Starting Narrow and Ending Broad
How can you turn a small curiosity into a larger
research question?
● Read over the survey responses of your classmates to
the last set of questions.
● Highlight responses that resonate with you.
● Choose three comments from your highlighted list and
write several questions that stem from that idea.
● Share with a group of 3-4 students.

15. Homework
Freewrite about a few topics that you are
considering and why you are considering them.
What questions do you have? What about that
topic makes you want to find out more?