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PRO TIP: START YOUR RESEARCH EARLY
Good research takes time and requires a willingness to explore resources and avenues of thought.
Your final paper should demonstrate that you've fully integrated your sources into your own knowledge and have the ability to express your understanding in your own words.
Be willing to have your assumptions challenged as you research and work towards your final paper. The early stages your research may result in the fine tuning your research question, resulting in a stronger and more compelling final paper.
Defining and Refining Your Research Question
Topic
Avoid too broad a subject
Ultimately you should find your way to a manageable topic/subject.
"Manageable" will be different depending on what you are writing; a 400 page book gives you more room to breath, as it were, than a 10-12 page paper.
Question
What specifically about that topic do you want to explore?
Fine tune your research question to a specific slice of your subject area.
You can't talk about everything so focus on what is most compelling; when you join the conversation let it be with something for which you have passion and energy.
Significance
So what? Why should anyone care?
Think of it this way: if YOU don't care, why should anyone else?
When you show up for the conversation -- whether that's to enlighten, persuade, or intrigue your reader -- give them a reason to care as much as you do about your research and findings.
~ Kate, L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 9th ed., revised by Wayne C. Booth, et al. (Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 2018), 7.
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