Choose a Topic
Choose a Topic
One of the most difficult steps in beginning a research paper can be choosing a topic.
This page has suggestions for selecting and focusing a topic, as well as a list of
possible topics to help you jumpstart the process.
Strategies for focusing a broad research topic
Are you overwhelmed with how much information you are finding? Try the suggestions
below:
-
Develop a tentative focus
List what you already know and questions you have about the topic
and focus on those you find most interesting.
-
Find background information on your topic
Check our
Electronic Reference Collection for an article in an online encyclopedia
you can trust.
-
Look for magazine articles
Magazine articles tend to be shorter and can provide a general idea of key issues or
controversies related to your topic. Try:
-
Search
CQ Researcher
This is a great source for finding background information and overviews of a wide
array of topics.
-
Choose a particular perspective on the issue
How do scholars from different subject fields approach your topic? Finding different points
of view can provide you with a better sense of direction. Look through our subject-specific
databases listed on the
Find Articlespage
like:
-
Limit your search to a specific time period
Look for date limit options when searching a database.
- Need more help?
Ask a Librarian for assistance.
Finding research topic ideas
You'll be spending a bit of time on your research paper, so be sure to choose a topic that will
sustain your interest!
You can find ideas for research topics by using the following strategies and resources:
-
Scan your textbook and other class readings for topic ideas and suggestions
-
Draw on what you have read or seen recently that interested you
-
Pick a topic relevant to your life
Considering a career in politics? Hoping to start your own business?
Thinking of studying abroad next year? Choose a topic that allows you to learn about something you
can apply to your daily life.
-
Check out our
Subject Guides
Subject Guides cover a wide variety of topics and one just might spark your
interest!
Topic Ideas
The list that follows is based on topics that the Undergraduate Library has noted of interest to
students in the past few years.
The broader categories are in bold, with suggested topics listed below.
Business
- Cybersecurity
- E-business
- Ethics
- Glass ceiling
- Online retail
- Outsourcing
- Sweatshops
- White collar crime
Crime and Law
- Acquaintance rape
- Animal rights
- Assisted suicide
- Campus violence
- Capital punishment
- Civil rights
- Drinking age, legal
- Drug legalization
- Gun control
- Hate crimes
- Insanity defense
- Mandatory Minimum sentencing
- Patriot Act
- Police brutality
- Prisons and prisoners
- Roe vs. Wade
- Serial killers
- Sex crimes
- Sexual harassment
- Three Strikes Law
Drugs and Drug Abuse
- Alcohol
- Cocaine
- Doping in sports
- Drug testing
- Drunk driving
- Heroin
- Marijuana
- Nicotine
Education
- Attention deficit disorder
- Charter schools
- College admission policies
- College athletes
- College tuition planning
- Distance education
- Diploma mills
- Education and funding
- Grade inflation
- Greek letter societies
- Hazing
- Home schooling
- Intelligence tests
- Learning disabilities
- Literacy in America
- Mascots (Illiniwek)
- No Child Left Behind
- Plagiarism
- Prayer in schools
- Sex education
- School vouchers
- Standardized tests
Environmental
- Acid rain
- Alternative fuel/hybrid vehicles
- Conservation
- Deforestation
- Endangered species
- Energy
- Global warming
- Greenhouse effect
- Landfills
- Marine pollution
- Nuclear energy
- Oil spills
- Pesticides
- Pollution
- Population control
- Radioactive waste disposal
- Recycling
- Smog
- Soil pollution
- Wildlife conservation
Family issues
- Battered woman syndrome
- Child abuse
- Divorce rates
- Domestic abuse
- Family relationships
- Family values
Health
- Abortion
- AIDS
- Attention deficit disorder
- Alternative medicine
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Artificial insemination
- Autism
- Birth control
- Bulimia
- Cancer
- Depression
- Dietary supplements
- Drug abuse
- Dyslexia
- Exercise and fitness
- Fad diets
- Fast food
- Heart disease
- HIV infection
- In vitro fertilization
- Medicaid/Medicare reform
- Obesity
- Organic foods
- Prescription drugs
- Plastic surgery
- Sleep
- Smoking
- Stem cell research
- Teen pregnancy
- Vegetarianism
- Weight loss surgery
Media and Communications
- Body image
- Censorship
- Children's programming and advertising
- Copyright Law
- Freedom of speech
- Materialism
- Media bias
- Media conglomerates/ownership
- Minorities in mass media
- Political correctness
- Portrayal of women
- Reality television
- Stereotypes
- Talk radio
- Television violence
Political Issues
- Affirmative Action
- Budget deficit
- Electoral College
- Election reform
- Emigration
- Genocide
- Illegal aliens
- Immigration
- Impeachment
- International relations
- Medicaid/Medicare reform
- Operation Enduring Iraqi Freedom
- Partisan politics
- Prescription drugs
- Social Security Reform
- Third parties
- Taxes
Psychology
- Child abuse
- Criminal psychology
- Depression
- Dreams
- Intelligence tests
- Learning disabilities
- Memory
- Physical attraction
- Schizophrenia
Religion
- Cults
- Freedom of religion
- Occultism
- Prayer in schools
Social Issues
- Abortion
- Adoption
- Airline safety/security
- Affirmative Action programs
- AIDS
- Apartheid
- Birth control
- Child abuse
- Child rearing
- Discrimination in education
- Employee rights
- Gambling/online gaming
- Gang identity
- Gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender
- Gay parenting
- Gender discrimination
- Genetic screening
- Homelessness
- Identity theft
- Interracial marriage
- Poverty
- Race relations
- Reverse discrimination
- Suffrage
- Suicide
- Test biases
- Textbook biases
- Welfare
Terrorism
- Bioterrorism
- Homeland Security
- September 11
Women and Gender
- Abortion
- Birth control and Pregnancy
- Body image
- Cultural expectations and practices
- Discrimination
- Eating disorders
- Education
- Feminism
- Gay pride
- Female genital mutilation
- Health
- Marriage and Divorce
- Media portrayals
- Menstruation and Menopause
- Parenting
- Prostitution
- Queer issues (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender)
- Sex and Sexuality
- Sports
- Stereotypes
- Substance abuse
- Violence and Rape
- Work
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