Selecting a Topic මාතෘකාවක් තෝරාගැනීම
 

The first step in the research process for all of your assignments is selecting a topic that meets two requirements:


  1. The topic must be interesting. Writers who are interested in their topics have a good chance of making their topics interesting to readers.

  2. The topic must be researchable. Trivial topics that might have popular interest but little serious scholarly interest are not appropriate for assignments in many academic writing courses: for example, "The Best Place to Spend Spring Break." The topic must be old enough to have a substantial research base yet new enough to still be relevant and interesting. Do not commit yourself if you are unsure about the availability of sources. Find out how much material the library has on the topic.

Your instructor may ask you to avoid topics that are overworked--for example, gun control, abortion, capital punishment. Be sure to record other topics your instructor asks you to avoid.
 
The following questions might help you to select a topic.


  • Briefly define or describe your topic. Try to answer questions reporters usually ask -- who? what? when? where? why?

  • What claim are you going to make about this topic? What is your thesis?

  • What is the scope of your topic? What are the main points you will discuss? List them in their order of importance.

  • Are there points or issues you will need to omit in order to narrow your topic? What are they?

  • Give a brief account of what other people have said or written about your topic.

  • In a paper, your personal opinion should be clear.  Check with your professor to see whether he/she wants you to expressly state your opinion with terms like "I think" or "I believe."

  • Who is your audience for this essay? What aspects of the topic will be interesting and relevant to your audience?

  • What aspects of the topic may not be interesting or relevant to your audience?

  • Give a brief explanation of issues that might make your topic arguable or controversial.

  • Which of these issues will you emphasize in your essay? Explain why these issues seem relevant to your thesis.

  • Will you purposely avoid any of these issues? Explain why.

(c) Shilpa Sayura Foundation 2006-2017