Tips for Picking a Topic
- Pick something you're interested in, curiosity is a great motivator.
- What are your personal interests?
- What are your academic interests?
- Pick something current, it has to be new!
- What's in the news?
- What's in your social media feed?
- What are people talking about?
- Pick something controversial.
- Something divisive, something people have strong opinions about.
- Start broad and brainstorm to narrow it down.
Mind Mapping
Finding a Topic
Sometimes finding a topic can be the most difficult part of starting your research. You want to choose a topic that you are genuinely interested in and excited to learn more about. This section of resources is a great place to start! Begin by browsing broad topics, then narrowing it down by sub-topics, looking at pro/con arguments and then finally checking out what's in the news.
Start Exploring
These databases are a great place to start browsing possible research topics. They offer controversial topics, pro/con perspectives, and lots of searching and browsing options.
- CQ Researcher This link opens in a new windowExpert summaries of current issues: scientific, political, and more (Library Subscription)
- ProConRead pro and con arguments for and against controversial topics (free access)
- Pew Research CenterThe Pew Research Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan and nonadvocacy organization that conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, and other data-driven social science research. Topics covered include: U.S. politics and policy; journalism and media; internet, science and technology; religion and public life; Hispanic trends; global attitudes and trends; and U.S. social and demographic trends.
Current Events and News
Exploring what's going on in the world is another great place to search for research topics. The following resources offer news at the local, national, and international level.
- Science NewsExplore news from all fields of science, written for non-scientists (free access)
- Ethnic News Watch This link opens in a new windowAn interdisciplinary, bilingual (English and Spanish) database of newspapers, magazines and journals from ethnic, minority and native presses.
- Journal of Commerce This link opens in a new windowNews and in-depth analysis for shipping and logistics industries. Comprehensive market data, including trade lane volume, trade statistics, schedule reliability & pricing information.
- NewsBank This link opens in a new windowA comprehensive news collection useful for exploring issues and events at the local, regional, national and international level. Source types include print and online-only newspapers, blogs, newswires, magazines, broadcast transcripts and videos.
- New York Times This link opens in a new windowFull access to NYTimes.com and NYTimes mobile apps, including breaking news articles, blogs, videos and interactive features.To register, go to www.nytimes.com/passes & log in with your Cal Maritime email (@csum.edu). Renew once per year by logging in at www.nytimes.com/passes
- Britannica - Academic This link opens in a new windowCombining Encyclopædia Britannica plus Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, magazines and periodicals, Britannica - Academic provides reliable sources needed when conducting thorough collegiate research
- Gale Virtual Reference Library This link opens in a new windowFull text of over 100 reference books on all subjects.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History by Call Number: REF VK15 .O84 2007ISBN: 9780195130751Publication Date: 2007
Handbook of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by Call Number: REF TJ 163.3 .H356 2007ISBN: 0849317304Publication Date: 2007
The Maritime Engineering Reference Book by Call Number: REF VM145 .M38 2008 or e-bookISBN: 9780750689878Publication Date: 2008
The Statesman's Yearbook 2017 by Call Number: REF JA51 .S7 2017ISBN: 9781137440082Publication Date: 2016
