English Research Memo

Examples of Topics for Analysis • the long-term effects of a vegetarian diet • the causes of student disinterest in campus activities • the student transportation problem to and from your college • comparison of two or more brands of equipment • noise pollution from nearby airport traffic • the effects of toxic chemical dumping in your community • the adequacy of veterans’ benefits • the influence of a civic center or stadium on your community • the best computer or tablet to buy for a specific need • the qualities employers seek in a job candidate • the feasibility of opening a specific business • the best location for a new business • causes of the high dropout rate in your college • the feasibility of moving to a certain area of the country • job opportunities in your field • the effects of budget cuts on public higher education in your state • effects of population increase on your local water supply • the feasibility of biological pest control as an alternative to pesticides • the feasibility of large-scale desalination of sea water as a source of fresh water • effective water conservation measures that can be used in your area • the effectiveness of massive open online courses (MOOCs) • the causes of low morale in the company where you work part-time • effects of thermal pollution from a local power plant on marine life • the feasibility of converting a campus building to solar heating • adequacy of police protection in your town • the best energy-efficient, low-cost housing design for your area • measures for improving productivity in your place of employment • reasons for the success of a specific business in your area • the feasibility of operating a campus food co-op • the advisability of home birth (as opposed to hospital delivery) the adequacy of the evacuation plan for your area in a nuclear emergency, hurricane, or other disaster • the feasibility and cost of improving security in the campus dorms • the advisability of pursuing a graduate degree in your field, instead of entering the work force with a bachelor’s degree • major causes of the wage gap between women and men in a particular field • feasibility of door-to-door food waste composting pick-up in your town • how new federal designations of wilderness areas affect the economy of your county • feasibility of single-cell protein production as a food source • comparative analysis of additives used in forage crop sources • analysis of benefits from organic farming practices in improving the soil complex • feasibility of processing specialty products from dead white pine • advisability of using the herbicide glyphosate to control weeds • comparative methods of soil-erosion control on irrigated farmland

• comparative analysis of careers in journalism, publishing, and technical writing • analysis of the problems in prosecuting child abuse in your state • methods for dealing with discarded computers and other “ewaste” • measures local schools can take to stem the obesity epidemic • feasibility of mass smallpox vaccination • the safety of our food supply and what can be done to protect it • whether wind power can be profitable • whether nuclear power plants can be dismantled safely • measures local hospitals can take to reduce medical errors • the pros and cons of online learning • comparison of homeopathy or acupuncture as feasible alternatives to traditional medicine • the safety of irradiated or genetically modified foods • the pros and cons of legalizing gambling in your state • the impact of budget cuts on your public schools • the effects of feral cat populations in urban areas • measures to promote tourism in your area