How to Identify a Topic That Interests You

This chapter shows you how to find a topic that can be explored in the amount of time available and with the research materials on hand. It also lists some questions that you need to ask at this stage of the research process. It is crucial for you to ask many questions about the topics you are exploring. Questions help you to refine your thinking and to formulate a good topic question they also shape the direction of your research. 

Finally, we encourage you to ask so what Why do you think that your topic is important and relevant How can you draw on your own special interests, experiences, and abilities to write an interesting and intellectually stimulating essay If you take the trouble to find a topic about which you care deeply, you are likely to write a very good essay. If you are bored by your topic—trust us— your readers will be too. 

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A subject is the area of knowledge where you will search for a topic and a topic question. Think of the subject as a large box filled with smaller boxes of the same size and shape. 

The name of your college class can serve as your subject. 

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