1. UNIT 2: Research Essay Topic Brainstorming
Having trouble grasping the assignment/topic? Try going through these steps to
brainstorm ideas toward a possible essay topic. And, as always, email your
instructor if you’re really struggling.
STEP 1: What are you interested in in terms of social crisis? Are you really invested in a
cause? Really fired up from a situation? Remember—this may be happening today, but you
can also think back to the past.
STEP 2: Can you pinpoint this crisis to a location? A variety of locations? Can you see
yourself drawing connections between the culture/landscape/geography and the crisis
itself? Remember—you can think both large and small. Your topic may be grounded in a
major city or even an entire state. Or, you can possibly see this in your hometown.
STEP 3: Do you see a variety of different aspects you can research in the process of writing
your essay? There very likely will not be ample research specifically on a town or a
particular crisis (especially if it’s happening right now). For example, say a person is
writing an essay on the crisis of Heisenberg’s meth ring in Albuquerque, NM. There may
be some research on drug crises in New Mexico or Albuquerque, and there may be some
articles on Heisenberg himself. But a person could also lace in research on the effects of
cancer in men in terms of mental deterioration. Think about what would be the most
obvious research angles, and then look for what would be one step away from that.
Expand your horizons.
STEP 4: What questions do you have? These may either be questions you have that you
plan to answer in your paper, or questions you have about this assignment. Articulating
these questions will help you, or your instructor, answer them.
