History
History Resources
Selecting a Topic
Keep some things in mind when selecting a topic:
- Pick a topic that is of interest to you. You might as well enjoy it.
- Research is a process, and the hardest part is often deciding what to write, therefore...
- Before committing to a topic, do a preliminary search to make sure there is material available on the subject and that you can complete the assignment in the time allotted.
- Be flexible: during the research process, you may find it necessary to broaden or narrow the topic. A well-defined question/issue/problem will need to be identified and answered for most upper-division research papers.
- Avoid topics that may be sensationalist or inappropriate for the college level. You may be fascinated by Vlad the Impaler, but it will be difficult to identify a historical question or issue on the subject which would satisfy your professor.
- Make sure your topic fits the parameters of the assignment.