TOPIC FOCUS
How to find a good topic for your research
Study the Topics Below.
___ sports throughout history___ the controversy over academic
standards and high school football eligibility
___ how football developed
Which is which?
• Choose C for the topic that is broadest• B for the topic that is more focused• A beside that topic that is most focused
___ sports throughout history___ the controversy over academic
standards and high school football eligibility
___ how football developed
C sports throughout historyA the controversy over academic
standards and high school football eligibility
B how football developed
TRY AGAIN
___ How genetic engineering will affect families___ the science of biology___ the accomplishments of major twentieth-century biologists
The Answers:
A How genetic engineering will affect familiesC the science of biologyB the accomplishments of major twentieth-century biologists
Another Try
___ electing good government officials___ causes of higher voter turnout in the last national election___ how elections works
The Answers:
B electing good government officials
A causes of higher voter turnout in the last national election C how elections works
One Last Try
___ the career of Brad Pitt___ the world’s most famous actor___ Brad Pitt’s acting methods
The Answers:
B the career of Sherlock HolmesC the world’s most famous detectivesA Sherlock Holmes’ methods of detection
What next?
• You have come up with a possible research topic.
• You have turned the topic into a question.
• Will it work?
Topics Related to Soccer
• Which will work best?
The questions:
1. Why do I like to play soccer?2. What caused soccer to emerge one of the
most popular organized sports in America?3. Is football superior to soccer?4. What are the best kind of soccer shoes?5. How does soccer compare to all other high
school sports?
Possible Problems:
A. too broadB. Too narrowC. Cannot be researched or provenD. Calls for a summary only; requires no
analysis or conclusionsE. Demands only personal opinion and no
analysis or conclusions
Which would work best?
1. Why do I like to play soccer?2. What caused soccer to emerge one of the
most popular organized sports in America?3. Is football superior to soccer?4. What are the best kind of soccer shoes?5. How does soccer compare to all other high
school sports?
1. Why do I like to play soccer?
No, this demands only personal opinion and no analysis or conclusion.
It cannot be researched or proven.
3. Is football superior to soccer?
No, this demands only personal opinion and no analysis or conclusion.
It cannot be researched or proven.
4. What are the best kind of soccer shoes?
This is too narrow.
5. How does soccer compare to all other high school sports?
This is too broad.
A Good Question:
What caused soccer to emerge one of the most popular organized sports in
America?
Works Cited
• Engelland, Leslie P. Practice in Style: Activities for Writing the Short
Term Paper. Logan, Iowa: Perfection Learning Corporation, 2006.Idea adapted from this book.