1.  It’s not too big or too small.

2.  The question focuses on some aspect of the topic about which something has been said.

3.  It interests the researcher.

4.  It potentially matters.

5.  It implies an approach, or various means of answering the question.

6.  Its raises more questions. The answer to the question might not be simple.

(from Bruce Balenger’s The Curious Researcher: A Guide to Writing Research Papers, held at the Northwestern Library)

Look around the CREDO database, where you can browse Topic Pages.  Look for something that seems interesting under Categories. 

Explore the Browse Issues page of Opposing Viewpoints in Context.  Once you find an issue that looks interesting, read the Topic Overview for a better idea of what the debate’s about, and explore op-eds, peer-reviewed studies or statistical information on the topic. 

You also want to be sure your topic is suitable based on the requirements of your assignment. Think about the assignment requirements and answer these questions before choosing a topic:

• How long is my paper supposed to be and can I find enough information on my subject to write that much? Alternatively, is my topic too big or too general for a paper of this size?

• What sort of resources does my instructor want me to use (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles) and can I find those on this topic? It's a good idea to do some pre-research to determine whether or not there are enough resources in the required formats.

• Does the paper have to be about a current topic or the history and development of something?

• Are you stating your opinion in this paper? Will you be able to find a variety of opinions and supporting evidence on this subject?

Ask Your Professor

If you can't come up with anything using the above methods, try asking your professor for ideas. Professors are experts in the subjects they teach and will likely have some useful suggestions for your paper.

Contact a Librarian

We can help you choose a suitable research topic and determine whether enough information exists on it, as well as good research resources to use.  Do keep in mind your instructor is the subject expert and we may refer you back to them, but will also do our best to help