Composition II Research Guide for ENGL 102: Developing a Topic

When you begin your research, you start with a broad topic. It is important that you focus your topic to make it manageable. For your assignment, you'll need to come up with a well-developed thesis statement.

Ask yourself these questions:

• Who is affected by your topic? (people, culture, demographics)
• What are the major issues and viewpoints to consider for your topic?
• Where is your topic most important? (geographical regions- local, national, international)
• When is/was your topic most important? Is it current, historical, ongoing?
• Why did you choose this topic? Do you have an opinion on the issues surrounding your topic?

Source: Mesa Community College. Determining your research question. 

Once you have a broad topic, it is important to come up with a manageable, focused research question -- one that is neither too broad or too narrow.

The 5 W's, described in the video below, are a helpful tool for focusing your research question/topic.

These are great places to begin research on current issues. Opposing Viewpoints and Points of View Reference Center contain viewpoints on current and controversial issues, but also much more: a variety of articles from magazines or scholarly journals, government information and primary sources, depending on the database.