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.