Research Success for High School Students

IDENTIFY YOUR TOPIC

You can brainstorm topic ideas by using the internet or library resources. For example, if you’re interested in writing about self-esteem in teenagers, you could use various search engines to find information, check Wikipedia pages, or view library resources to see what aspects of “self-esteem in teenagers” people are talking about. Doing this might help you identify gaps in knowledge or narrow your topic so that it’s not too broad for a short assignment.

A good research topic is capable of supporting multiple discussions, possibilities, and perspectives. It should also:

• Recognize contexts (historical, social, scientific, personal, etc.)
• Have identifiable consequences and effects
• Lead to possible outcomes or solutions

Keep in mind that your research question may change as you engage in research and find sources, which is a normal part of the research process.

Still having trouble deciding what to write about? Try exploring the links below to get some ideas.

NOTE: These sites are very useful, but check with your instructor before citing any information from them!  Your instructor may require only scholarly, peer-reviewed articles.