If your assignment does not specify a topic, consider the following questions:
What subjects do you already know something about? Which of them would you like to explore more fully?
What subjects do you care about? What might you like to become an expert on?
What subjects evoke a strong reaction from you—
Be sure to get responses about your possible topic from your instructor, classmates, and friends. Ask them whether they would be interested in reading about the topic, whether it seems manageable, and whether they know of any good sources for information on the topic.
Sample: A student researcher’s assignment and topic
For an introductory writing course, student David Craig received the following assignment:
Choose a subject of interest to you, and use it as the basis for a research essay of approximately 2,500 words that makes and substantiates a claim. You should use a minimum of five sources.
He hit on his topic one evening after spending several hours exchanging texts and messages with friends. Like most of the people his age whom he knew, David had considered texting and messaging a regular part of his writing experience for years, so he expected his classmates to find the subject intriguing.
Find out more about how David Craig narrowed his topic and turned it into a hypothesis and then a working thesis for his research project.
Student Writing: A student research essay, MLA style (David Craig)
Talking the Talk: Reaching an audience
Video Prompt: Researching something exciting