Your research topic should be more than just academically justified. Of course, you need to choose the one that relates to a particular field of knowledge and some crucial questions. However, the topic should also be catchy and exciting and, of course, something that you are interested in. This will make the process of both writing and reading more pleasant. Check these tips and use them to make your research topic stellar.
Top tips on how to choose a good topic
- Get inspired
Before you start, you should spend a couple of hours in the library, learning more about the field you will work on. Read as much as you can and gather resources from books, encyclopedias, newspapers, journals, and relevant materials. Be sure you make notes while you read so you don’t forget your ideas later. Getting as much knowledge as possible will help you define the most interesting themes. If something touches you, makes your creative juices flow, and doesn’t go away from your head, it is a good idea to work on.
- Pick something that appeals to you
If you don’t feel that a topic evokes something personal in your heart, you should move on to something else. You can’t do outstanding research without having a little passion for the subject, so be sure to choose something meaningful to you. If you are fond of particular authors or segments of knowledge, make sure to stick to them when choosing a topic. Ideas will come to you naturally if you work with sources and materials that you like.
- Be clear
It is essential to express your thoughts in a straightforward manner, even if you think that your potential readers are aware of the subject you are researching. Nothing ruins the impression of your research more than vague language. Even if your ideas are complicated, you have to find a way to express them engagingly. Remember, it is always better to be over-communicative than under-communicative
- Keep your audience in mind
Think about people who are going to read your work. Who are they? What is their potential level of knowledge? Do they even care about the ideas that interest you? Make sure that your topic is valuable and understandable for your readers, whether professors or peers.
- Be careful with terms
Here is another thing that can spoil readers’ impression of your work – improper scientific language. Ensure that you know exactly what terms and concepts mean when including them in your text. It’s very embarrassing when someone uses specified vocabulary in the wrong way. This makes you look unprofessional and lazy. If you don’t know the concrete meaning of the word, just read the explanation or don’t use it.
As you can see, the main secret of choosing a perfect research topic is picking something that seems valuable and exciting to you. When you are composing a paper with passion, your readers will notice and take more interest in what you are writing about. Who knows, maybe you will make someone interested in something new this way!
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Updated in March of 2021
BIO: Jennifer Pauli graduated from Corvinus School of Management at the Corvinus University of Budapest. Currently, Jennifer is an editor, business writer, and copywriter, working with EssaySpirit.com and other well-known companies, blogs, and personalities.
