Unit I
Lesson 4: Selecting a Topic
Introduction
At the end of the last unit, we discussed that the undertaking of creating a research paper is a project and that it is helpful to think about the entire course as developing this project. As such, you will take the first step in developing the project by selecting a topic for your research and, subsequently, your research paper. In this lesson, we will discuss some ways that you can choose a topic.
What Makes for a Good Topic?
As we have discussed in the previous Unit I lessons so far, the paper that you will be writing for this course will be argumentative. Therefore, it is important for you to choose a topic that is conducive to such an undertaking. In other words, you need to choose a topic that will make it easy for you to create an argument and argue your point using the relevant literature to support that argument.
People have strong opinions about certain topics, even before a conversation, let alone a debate, can begin. Abortion, immigration, gun control, and health care are all examples of these. Potential readers usually have deep, personal beliefs about these topics, beliefs that are not easily changed. Even when game-changing evidence is provided and new examples given, a reader may not be persuaded because he or she is unwilling to consider seriously and openly the argument presented. This is why professors ask students to avoid such topics because students often find themselves stepping foot in a vast sea of opinions that will not be changed. Navigating this body of works can be difficult.
Another aspect to consider is that writing a research paper should be something of a learning experience for the student writer. Discovery and expanding one’s understanding are two of the great joys of a research project. If you bring steadfast opinions to the project, then there is less of an opportunity to experience these aspects. This does not mean that you must choose a topic that is completely foreign, but you should approach the research process with an open mind. If you choose a topic, like abortion, and you do not feel that you can honestly approach the topic with openness, then the best thing to do is to accept your beliefs and choose another topic. You do this for your own sake because it can be emotional, unnecessarily challenging, and frustrating to weed through research when you already know what you think. Therefore, you are encouraged to choose a topic that enables you to explore a controversy that you are interested in already—maybe something that is in the news—so that you might uncover research and persuade your reader at the same time.
Brainstorming an Academically Relevant Topic
It is a common pitfall that students choose topics that are inappropriate for the kind of assignment that they are being asked to complete. Here are a few things to avoid:
Informational: These are topics that are purely or mostly informational, instead of being argumentative.
· Unsuitable: A student might want to write a paper about football. The problem is that it becomes difficult for the writer to insert an argument about a sport.
· Better: A student might decide to write about college football and the fact that student athletes are not compensated in the way that professionals are. A topic like this is highly controversial, so there are plenty of ways to construct arguments.
Too broad: Students will sometimes discover broad topics that interest them, thinking that if they write about a large topic, then they will have plenty to write about. The truth is that when a topic is too broad, the paper lacks the specificity to make any definite statements. In other words, the paper—the argument—glosses too much, thereby never making any impact statements about anything.
· Unsuitable: For example, the topic of global warming is too broad. While there are some more specific issues within this larger topic, the topic of global warming itself is literally as huge as the world. There is no way for a student to cover all of the possible issues of global warming in one paper—nor should he or she want to. It would be far better for a student to choose one topic and then to narrow it down from there.
· Better: An example of narrowing a topic like global warming might be something like choosing to write about water pollution, specifically about the abundance of plastics in the ocean. In order for a paper like this to be argumentative, the student would need to argue for something in the paper—such as stronger punishments for plastic dumping—rather than just informing the reader about the issue.
Too difficult for nonexperts: Occasionally, a student will choose a topic that he or she wants to write about, but a degree of training and expertise that he or she does not possess is necessary in order to write about the topic. This situation will be the case, even if the student is able to include relevant literature that contains experts. In addition, student writers without expertise will find it nearly impossible to assert authority over the topic, and being able to do so is one of the main elements of persuasion.
· Unsuitable: This kind of situation occurs when a student decides to write about a medical or scientific phenomenon that would require an advanced degree to truly understand. For example, a student desires to write about a particular disease and how it should be treated. While it is understandable that one would want to write about such a topic, most students lack the medical training necessary to be able to understand the relevant literature about a particular kind of cancer, for example, or a mental disorder.
· Better: It would be far better for a student to write about an issue where a side can be taken. If a student still wanted to write about an issue like cancer, then the student could find a controversy that did not involve expertise. A student might want to write about physical pain management and how some narcotics are considered Schedule II drugs, meaning that it is much more difficult for people with chronic pain to get these medications because the statistics show that prescription narcotics are a significant risk to drug abusers. As you can see, there are clearly two sides in this controversy, and exploring it and establishing one’s own argument for, against, or partially for and against would be interesting.
Too subjective: Another misstep is to choose a topic that is far too subjective to support an argumentative paper. As we discussed in EH 1010, there is a difference between opinion and argument. An opinion is a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty. However, an argument is a reason or set of reasons given with the aim of persuading others that an action or idea is right or wrong. In other words, for an argument to persuade, then it must be reasonable and have support provided, but no such support must be provided for an opinion. A person may have the opinion that peanut butter is the best food in the world, but only an argument can make the case for peanut butter as a smart choice for a child’s lunch.
· Unsuitable: Students sometimes want to make arguments that they cannot make. For example, a student may want to argue that hip-hop music is great. The truth is that you might convince someone to accept your opinion, and you may persuade him or her to see hip-hop music in the way that you do. However, the fact is that you two will share the same opinion, not that any real argument has taken place because in order for an argument to work, it must be supported with evidence.
· Better: A student may decide to write about the positive versus the negative effects of hip-hop music on particular communities. In this way, a student would not be arguing for the reader to accept his or her opinion, but would be attempting to vindicate a genre of music.
Do You Have an Argumentative Topic?
As we have established, the topic you choose for your research paper should be argumentative. One of the best ways to ensure this quality is to find a topic within a controversy. Controversial issues invite arguments and choosing sides. An example of this type of issue is gun control. However, as we learned from the sections above, a topic like gun control is far too large to tackle in one paper. So, let’s narrow the topic down to a state house bill that would propose that all of the publicly supported colleges and universities in an existing open-carry state would allow open carry on their campuses.
There are at least two, if not more, sides to any given issue:
· Pro (agree): This side is for the passing of the state bill. This side is also pro-open carry, stating that students have as much right to carry firearms on campus as they do within the surrounding cities. This side argues that personal risk does not diminish once a person steps on a university campus.
· Con (against): This side is against the passing of the state bill. This side is also anti-open carry, stating that a college campus is no place for firearms. This side argues that the classroom environment can become heated at times when oppositional ideas are presented, so keeping firearms away is best for all.
· Pro/Con (neither or agree and disagree): This side does not necessarily agree or disagree with the pro or con sides. Instead, someone on this side might be pro-open carry, but might think that a college campus is no place for guns. Another person might believe that guns are generally unsafe, but agrees that students, faculty, and staff should have a means to protect themselves.
Once we understand that there are at least two sides to every controversy or argument, then we are able to ask an important question: Do you have an argumentative topic? One of the main ways that you can test your topic to ensure that you have an argumentative topic is to use the following guidelines:
1. Attempt to establish a thesis statement that embodies your argument. (This thesis can be a sketchy one and can absolutely be revised in the future.)
2. Ask yourself, does my thesis have a possible reverse of my thesis statement? In other words, could someone argue the opposite of what I am arguing?
3. Could you look for evidence that would support your argument? Is this an opinion or a supportable assertion?
Example thesis: Texting while driving should be illegal in all U.S. states.
Example inverted thesis: Texting while driving should be legal in all U.S. states.
Looking at these two thesis statements, we must take into account that these are simplified thesis statements. Obviously, the actual thesis statements that develop out of these will be more complicated and include more elements. However, we can easily see this is a controversy because there are at least two sides here—a pro and a con. Further, as the third question makes clear, both of these sides in the debate could bring in expert voices as articulated in the relevant literature that would support or rebut the thesis. Evidence could be presented in support of or against each thesis.
Check for Understanding
(Answer Key is below Review)
1. True/False: Topics that are informational should be avoided.
2. True/False: “Criminal behavior” is an acceptable topic.
3. Yes/No: Carla wants to write about how the U.S. is falling behind in the space race, but she has never studied astrophysics. Is this a good topic choice?
4. Yes/No: James is interested in renewable textiles and wants to write about how cotton is really the best fabric for clothing. Is this a good topic choice?
Review
1. You need to choose a topic that will make it easy for you to create an argument and argue your point using the relevant literature to support that argument.
2. Topics about which people have preconceived opinions should be avoided because the reader and the writer are less likely to learn and to be persuaded.
3. You want to avoid topics that are (a) informative, (b) too broad, (c) too difficult for non-experts, and (d) too subjective.
4. An opinion is a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty.
5. When considering a controversy, ascertain the sides of the issue—pro, con, and pro/con.
Answer Key
1. True: Topics that do not contain a controversy will not facilitate writing an argumentative paper, which is a requirement of the course.
2. False: This is an example of a topic that is “too broad.”
3. Yes, Carla can write about the defunding of U.S. space programs without being an expert on astrophysics.
4. Yes, James wants to focus on the renewability of cotton as a natural resource. If he just wanted to write about cotton as a fabric, then he would be in danger of writing a paper that was too subjective.
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