Skip to Main Content
Call: 531-MCC-2400 Chat With Us! Request Info Give Canvas/Student Links Login (Staff/Faculty) APPLY
Library Home Research Guides Faculty Resources About the Libraries Get Help A-Z Databases

Research 101: Selecting a Topic

Generate Topic Ideas

Use the following questions to generate topic ideas:

  • Do you have a strong opinion on a current social or political controversy?
  • Did you read or see a news story recently that caught your interest?
  • Is there an issue or a problem that has affected you, your family, or your community?
  • Is there an issue you've always wanted to learn more about?

If you can't think of any topics, try browsing the library's Pro/Con Issues databases or look at the websites listed on the Hot Topics page.

Brainstorming

Once you have a general topic in mind, brainstorming can help you identify more ideas or potential research questions.

  • Start with your topic and make a list of all the ideas, questions, and issues related to it you can think of.
  • Don't worry about spelling or grammar. Just keep your creative juices flowing.
  • Write down everything that comes to mind, including ideas that seem silly or outlandish.
  • Then go back and look for patterns, categories, or connections between the ideas.
  • If you get stuck, set your list aside and let your ideas percolate for a while. Keep adding to it as new ideas pop into your head.
  • If an idea appeals to you, make it the center idea on a new piece of paper and brainstorm more details.

The Power of Brainstorming (Clark College Libraries)

Brainstorming Techniques

Freewriting: write down everything and everything that comes to mind. Set a time limit from five to twenty minutes.

  • Write nonstop to keep your hands moving.
  • Don't worry about spelling or grammar.
  • Write as fast as you can to keep up with your thinking.
  • If you get stuck, copy the same word or phrase over and over again until you come up with a new thought.

Clustering or mapping: this technique allows you to visualize your ideas using circles, lines, or arrows.

  • Write your topic in the middle of a blank piece of paper and draw a box or circle around it.
  • Brainstorm random ideas related to your topic. Write them down in clusters around the topic and draw lines or arrows connecting them to the topic.
  • Use different shapes, colors, or lines to represent subtopics or different categories.

Mapping Your Research Ideas (UCLA Libraries)