Developing a Research Topic and Generating a

PaperDana Collins

• Please fill out the ‘Paper Worksheet’

Discuss Worksheets

• Please share:– Your name– Your area of study– Your paper subject– Why you are interested

in the subject– What you want your

readers to learn– Any questions you may

have about writing your paper

Subject Topic

• A subject is a very broad and general category.

• A topic is a specific issue within that category that can be discussed in great detail.

• A good paper finds a topic within a subject to write about.

Subject Topic

• Health

Subjects Topics

• Business

• Linguistics

• Is there a direct link between the prevalence of fast food restaurants and the general health status of a community?

• Is stem cell replacement therapy a viable option for the treatment of kidney disease?

• How does the development of mobile applications affect the growth and consumer base of a small business?

• Why do so many small businesses go bankrupt within their first year of operation?

• In what way does early bilingualism affect the development of a child’s brain?

• How is technological motivation a factor in second language learning outcomes?

Note-taking to Refine Topics

• As you begin researching through reading, write down anything that excites you, bothers you, annoys you, or sparks your interest.

• Write down any musings or anything you find confusing.

• You can do this in a notebook or you can keep annotated notes.

Checklist for Assessing the Writing Situation

• Take a checklist.

• As we go through each item, please feel free to volunteer your response to any particular question on the list.

• Please also voice any comments/concerns.

Initial Research to Narrow Your Topic

• Do background reading for an overview/historical context of your topic

• Use textbooks/course books, articles, and basic Internet searches– You may use sites like Wikipedia & Google

at this time, but they are ultimately not legitimate sources

• Focus on time periods, geographic locales, cultures, individuals or groups

Asking Questions to Refine Topics

• Ask WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY & HOW (W5 &H)!

• These questions will always lead to a deeper analysis.

Asking Questions to Refine Topics

• A good research paper always starts with a question.

• One you’ve established your primary question, use the ‘Worksheet for Developing Inquiry Questions’ to create sub-questions.

Asking Questions to Refine Topics

• Primary Question: Are Oreos as addictive as cocaine?

– Sub-question: What is the neurological mechanism responsible for addiction?

– Sub-question:Do people like Oreos and cocaine?

– Sub-question:What kinds of people consume Oreos? What kinds of people consume cocaine? What do these groups have in common and how do they differ?

– Sub-question:What rehabilitation options exist for people addicted to either of these substances?

A Few Additional Topic-Refining Questions

• Is my topic still too broad?– If entire books are devoted to your topic, then probably

YES.

• Is my topic too limited?– If you can explain it all in a page or two, then probably

YES.

• Is my topic tedious?– If you are bored just thinking about it and you are bored

writing it, then probably YES. Also, how do you think your readers will feel in this situation?

• Is my paper one-sided?– If most people already feel the same way as you do

about the topic, then there’s no point to argue.

http://www.infoplease.com/cig/writing-well/subjects-vs-topics.html

More Brainstorming Techniques

• Clustering/Mind Mapping• Listing• Freewriting

• Questions & Answers• Fold a piece of paper in half• Write “Questions” on one half &

“Answers” on the other half• This is a good way to organize your

thought process

More Brainstorming Techniques

Analyze Your Topic

• What kind of information do you need?• Use the ESC Online Learning

Resources– The online library has journals and articles

organized by subject (subject guides)– There is a virtual reference library, e-

books, films, and librarians waiting to answer your questions!

• http://www.esc.edu/library• Also click the “Learning Support” tab

on myESC

Establish a Tentative Timeline• Set small, achievable goals and stick to them!– Sample Goal: I will finish finding all of my sources

in one week from today.– Sample Goal: I will finish reading and annotating

all of my sources in three weeks from today.– Sample Goal: I will finish a first draft in one month

from today.

• Note your due date. Ask yourself whether your timeline is realistic for meeting that deadline.

• Write your goals in your calendar. Treat them like you would an appointment with a business client!

Establish a Tentative Plan

• Hawaii is losing its cultural identity.– pure-blooded Hawaiians increasingly

rare– native language diluted– natives forced off ancestral lands– little emphasis on native culture in

schools– customs exaggerated and distorted by

tourism

(Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2003. Print. )

Turn the Tentative Plan into an Outline

• Please take a sample outline.

• Outlines are used as a guide for writing. Ten or so blank pages can seem intimidating to fill! Outlines can take some of that fear away by filling those blank pages with structure.

• You can decide how formal to make your outline unless it is a required assignment.

Drafting

• Drafting can take place at any point in the writing process.

• When writing, keep notes nearby for encouragement and support.

• Draft an introduction, body, and conclusion. Your final paper must include all three of these sections.

• Introduction–Usually a paragraph about 50-150

words

• Body– This is where the bulk of your

information/findings is presented

• Conclusion– Reiterate the main idea; do not

introduce new information

Drafting

Revising the First Draft

• Two types of revisions:– Sentence level– Global

Podcast: The Writing Irregulars, Season 1, Episode 2

• Write answers to the questions as they are answered in the podcast

Don’t Be This Guy!

…Or This Guy…

...And if You Find Yourself Here…

...Come and Visit Me on a Thursday Evening!

Thank You, Have a Good Night, and Good Luck with Your Papers!