Choosing a Topic

Steps for choosing a good research topic:

1. Brainstorm a list of topics that interest you.

Example: American Civil War

2. Narrow down your topic by adding limiters like geographic location, time period, or special population.

Example: American Civil War + southern United States + after 1865 + African-Americans

3. Create an essential question to guide your research. The question should be deep with no clear cut answer. Take a look at these question starters.

Example: In what ways did the local and state governments in the southern and northern United States treat African-Americans alike and differently after the American Civil War?

This question will become your guide for all of your research and the answer to this question becomes your thesis.

4. In order to answer your essential question, you will need to research the details. Think about what information you need to answer that essentail question.

Example: What were the "southern United States"? What were the "northern United States"? What were some examples of laws in the south? What were some examples of laws in the north?