I need help picking out a topic. Where do I start?

The first thing you want to do is look at your assignment. Do you have specific parameters or are you permitted to choose anything? Choosing a topic that interests you makes the research process easier. If you are having trouble selecting a topic, check out the Topics for Research Papers guide. It lists several resources that can help you.

Once you settle on a topic, you'll need to narrow it down by focusing on one specific angle or question. For example, you may want to research the topic social media, however that is too broad. How social media affects sleep in college students is more targeted and manageable to research. You could read scholarly subject encyclopedias for background research to learn more about your topic and some specific aspects of it, or you could brainstorm related concepts and keywords. See our other FAQs below for more information.