Trying to decide what to write about is often the most difficult and frustrating part of research. Whether your instructor has given a pre-assigned topic or expects a self-chosen topic, it is up to you to decide from what angle to approach the topic.

Rule#1: Choose a topic that will interest you. If the research assignment is unrestricted, try to relate the topic to some personal experience or issue of personal relevance. If there is no personal interest in the assigned topic, try to pick a topic from some angle of the subject for which there is slight curiosity. Below are some ideas for finding topics of interest:

Google News– Browse through the latest news articles and look for stories that spark your interest.

CQ Electronic Library– Browse through a database like CQ Electronic Library available through our website at library.buffalo.edu. CQ Researcher, one section of this database offers extensive reports and articles on current and controversial issues.

Best Basic Resources–The “Selecting a Topic” section of the Best Basic Resources page on the libraries website offers a host of useful databases that cover current events, controversial topics, issues, and debates.

Remember: Avoid cliched arguments and write about interesting topics that matter to you! For more information about how to select a topic visit the Research Tips page.