Beginning a research assignment requires you to explore a broad topic and narrow it down. Developing a research question can guide your searches for information. See the linked file below for an example of narrowing a broad topic into a thesis statement.
Choosing an interesting and robust topic is essential to any successful research project. You can get ideas for topics from many places. One strategy that is particularly effective when you are new to a discipline or field is to browse the literature of the field. For those exploring marine engineering, magazines and trade publications are a nice place to start. Below are suggested magazines available through the Cal Maritime Library.
Cal Poly Maritime Academy Library
200 Maritime Academy Drive
Vallejo, CA 94590
707-654-1090