It seems so easy - just choose a topic for your paper - and yet it’s so hard. What to write about, and (just as important) what not to write about? The key is to balance what you are interested in with what you can manage. Choose the wrong topic and your paper may never get off the ground. Choose the right topic and you enable yourself to properly focus and research your topic (a key ingredient to producing a top quality paper). Today’s video tutorial offers some solid advice on how to choose a good topic for your research paper.

Video Tutorial on How to Choose a Good Topic

Points to Remember

1. Look for a topic that interests you
2. Focus on a specific element or facet of the broader topic that you are interested in
3. By narrowing your focus you will be able to:
   • Tell a good story and keep your readers interest
   • Manage the paper (i.e., you won’t get lost in too many details, facts, resources etc.)

The 8 Steps to Writing a Great Research Paper

1. Pick a good, well-focused topic that you are interested in
2. Determine the goal and/or purpose of your paper
3. Gather together the best resources available on your topic
4. Study and take notes of your resources
5. Turn your notes into a well-organized outline
6. Write a rough draft
7. Revise (over and over again) your rough draft
8. Get feedback from friends, colleagues and experts (then rewrite again)

All Tutorials in This Series

1. How to Write a Great College Research Paper
2. How to Choose a Topic for a Research Paper
3. How to Narrow the Focus of Your Paper Topic
4. How to Determine the Purpose of Your Paper
5. How to Research a Topic
6. How to Take Notes for Your Research Paper
7. How to Write an Outline
8. How to Write a Rough Draft
9. How to Revise a Rough Draft
10. Getting Feedback on Your College Paper
11. Make the Effort to Write a Great Paper