ENG 111: College Composition I (DiAngelo-Alexandria)

Think about and look for the following:

• Is there information written about your topic?
• What are some ways to focus the topic?
• Are there particular demographic groups, locations, time periods, or causes/effects to focus on?
• Are there problems/solutions?
• Who is (or should be) involved/impacted (e.g., government, non-governmental organizations, local community groups, individuals, businesses, etc.), and how?

Write down: main ideas, important events, key people and organizations, key issues or controversies

Picking a topic is research. Narrowing, widening, or otherwise adjusting your topic is a normal part of the process as you collect more information and prepare to write your paper. Starting with a topic you're interested in and giving yourself enough time to learn and make changes can make a big difference in the quality of your final project. Learn more about the research process with the short video below.