This document provides guidance on selecting a topic and developing a research question for an I-Search paper. It instructs students to choose a topic that genuinely interests them and is relevant to their lives. Students are encouraged to brainstorm topics and use "trigger phrases" to help generate ideas. They should then consider which topics lend themselves to research by assessing their interest level and whether outside sources exist. Finally, students are told to form a specific, focused research question that could lead to more complex questions and will be the starting point for their search. The document emphasizes that finding a good research question is an important first step in the process.