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Topic Brainstorming

🎯 Objectives

This learning module should take you about 10-15 minutes to complete.
In this learning module, you will:
  • Consider the value of Background Research.
  • Learn how to find a research topic that you find interesting.

Topic Brainstorming

What is your initial reaction when you are assigned to write a research paper? Is it excitement? Are you overjoyed with this new learning opportunity?

Maybe joy and excitement are not your initial responses, but in all honesty, there is a way to enjoy your assignment. The key is to find something that you are interested in — something that you enjoy learning about. Even if you are assigned a topic to research, you can find a specific aspect of that topic that fascinates you or even relate one of your interests to your assigned topic.

Watch the following video to learn more about the topic brainstorming process.

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Topic Brainstorming

So, to recap: you will enjoy the research and writing process if you find a topic that you find interesting. Find a topic that interests you by considering what you are passionate about and conducting background research.

đź“š Background research is different than scholarly research. Scholarly research is completed after you have selected a topic and usually involves peer-reviewed articles and data sets. You will conduct scholarly research after you have selected a topic and formed a research question.



You participate in a form of background research each day: have you ever used Google to find an answer to a question? That is a form of background research.

In addition to Google, here are some more resources that you can use to conduct background research:

(Visit Searching as Strategic Exploration to find out more about these resources)

💡Remember, research is simply a form of learning—meaning that the development of your topic will naturally come as a result of your research.





Think and Reflect

Suggested Steps

Depending on your specific research and writing assignment, you may be assigned a topic to write about or you may be able to choose your own topic. In some cases, choosing your own topic can seem daunting and sometimes writing about an assigned topic can seem boring. Following the steps below should help you in either case to find a topic that is interesting to you.

This infographic outlines two different ways to brainstorm a topic, depending on if you were assigned a topic or not. There is a square at the top with the question "Were you assigned a topic?" There are two lines leading off of this square, one leading to the word "no" and one leading to the word "yes." The word "no" leads to a rectangle on the left side of the infographic that has the following three steps written in it: "1. Identify several topics that interest you. 2. Conduct background research to learn more about the topics. 3. Find the specific aspects of each topic that interests you the most." The word "yes" leads to a rectangle on the right side of the infographic that has the following three steps written in it: "1. Conduct background research to learn more about your assigned topic. 2. Identify aspects of the topic that interest you. 3. Explore what you are passionate about and relate it to the assigned topic." These two rectangles have arrows leading to a small rectangle at the bottom of the infographic that contains the following phrase: "Select a Specific Topic."

How Do I Know If I Have a Good Research Topic?

After you have conducted background research and brainstormed topics, how do you know which topic would be the best to select? Use the following questions to help you determine if it is the right research question for your situation.

  • Does it fit your interest?
  • Does it fit your assignment?
  • Will this topic appeal to the audience you are writing for?
  • Do you have a bias toward this topic? Do you think you have an answer to this question already?
  • Can you find multiple perspectives within your research?

🎓 If you are still unsure about your topic, ask your professor. They will help you find the best way to move forward.



Learn From Examples

Continue reading to understand the experiences of two students with different assignment requirements. First, read through the slides below for an example of a student who was assigned to research a topic of their choosing.

Now read through the slides below for an example of a student who was assigned a specific prompt.

What Have We Learned

  • Picking a research topic doesn’t have to be a scary or hard process.
  • If you find a topic that interests you, then the research and writing process will be more enjoyable.
  • You don’t have to solidify your topic before you research. In fact, your topic solidifies as you research.
  • Choosing a topic that fascinates you can be accomplished by conducting background research. You can do this by spending time learning about various topics and identifying potential connections between them.