Skip to Main Content

FYWS A Place of One's Own: Topic/Research Question

Choosing a Topic

Find ideas in:

  • Your syllabus
  • Your readings
  • Class discussion
  • Your life
  • Current events

Find Background Information

Background information helps you: 

  • Start thinking about your topic
  • See the big picture
  • Identify major issues
  • Discover something that interests you

Familiarize yourself with your topic by scanning articles from the popular press. What are people saying about tiny houses, shopping malls and man caves? 

Narrow Your Topic

Consider these questions:

Ask yourself open-ended questions to focus your topic. You don't have to answer all of the questions. Some might not apply or be helpful.

 
Use the five w's: 
  • Who: demographic focus (gender, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status
  • What: aspects and impacts of the topic (sociological, psychological, economic)     
  • Where: geographic location
  • When: either present day or a particular time period in the past
  • Why/How/So What!: importance, significance (societal, individual)