Ask me!
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?
- Start broad and brainstorm to narrow it down.
- Keep your assignment guidelines in mind!!
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.
- 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
- 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.
- Science NewsExplore news from all fields of science, written for non-scientists (free access)
Concept or Mind Mapping
Concept or mind mapping helps you see connections between concepts, focus your research, and develop key words for searching.
You can use paper, white boards, any computer document, or online tools to develop a concept map. Put your central idea i the center (naturally!), and add additional ideas or questions in the bubbles around it. Then, think of other word that mean the same thing as the ideas you identified; you can use these words in your searching.
- Mind Mapping Interactive Tutorial (University of Arizona Libraries)This tutorial walks you through identifying your topic, adding related questions, identifying other key words, and finally arriving at a more defined topic.