SOWK 2155: Communication: Select a Topic

Before selecting a topic or starting your research, make sure you understand your assignment. Consider:

• Have you been assigned a topic or can you pick your own?
• How many pages/words do you need to write? How long is your presentation?
• Do you need to include specific types of sources (e.g. scholarly journal articles, book, etc.)?
• When is the assignment due? How much time do you have to research?
• Is having recent information (from the last five years, last ten years) important?

When in doubt, consult with your instructor.

Choose a topic that interests you and will hold your attention. If you do, the research will be more enjoyable!

 Can’t think of a topic to research? 

• Think about discussion you've had in class. What was the most interesting to you?
• Discuss topics with your instructor, a librarian or a classmate.
• Scan Twitter/Facebook/your social media of choice. What's trending?

Once you have selected a topic, the next step is to develop research questions.

• Write down what you already know or don't know about the topic.
• Use that information to develop questions.
  • Use probing questions. (why? what if?)
  • Avoid "yes" and "no" questions. 

Hat tip to Lori Micho of JWU Denver Libraries, for letting me borrow and modify content from her Research Process guide.