LibGuides: College in the High School EN 101: Picking a Topic

Identifying a Topic

How do you find a research topic that is original, interesting to you and manageable within your time constraints and the size of the assignment?

Pick something you're interested in. You'll enjoy the work and will do a better job on the project. What if a topic area is assigned to you? Find an aspect of the topic that interests you.

The following links explain how to choose a research topic and refine it:

Narrowing a Topic and Developing a Research Question An excellent Indiana University Libraries PDF explaining how to chose a topic and formulate a research question.
Formulating a Research Question Just because your topic is in the form of a question doesn't mean it's a good one! This PDF from Vanderbilt University explains how research questions can be problematic. Includes a useful checklist.

Need a Topic? Try a Database

The following databases can assist you in locating a research topic. To access the following databases, you must sign in with your C-GCC email address and password.

How to Develop a Good Research Topic

A Useful Book

99 Jumpstarts to Research: Topic guides for finding information on current issues by Peggy Whitley; Catherine C. Olson; Susan Williams Goodwin
Call Number: ZA3050 .W47 2001
ISBN: 1563089157
Publication Date: 2001
This guide pinpoints the best resources on hot topics. Each topic features a basic explanation of the subject, search terms, reference resources, periodicals, Web sites and organizations.