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Composition I Research Guide for ENGL 101: Developing a Topic

Choosing a Topic

Where do you go when you don't know what you are searching for? The resources listed below are great places to begin research on current issues.

Online Reference

Issue Based Databases

Other Library Guides

Focus Your Topic

PICK A TOPIC THAT INTERESTS YOU: If you choose something you enjoy reading and talking about then the paper-writing process will be relatively painless.

Focus on a Research Question

Research is not the mere compilation of information about a topic, but an inquiry that seeks answers to a specific question. To achieve a viable topic, focus on a single, specific research question. Sometimes a research question is stated in the form of a thesis statement or hypothesis. A research question focuses on just one aspect of a topic, and a topic is only part of a broader subject area. It is good to keep these levels in mind when looking for various kinds of information.