Picking a research topic is your chance to shine! At last you can work without your tutor standing over you telling you what to think, and you can let new ideas flow and discover your own creativity. There are three crucial points to consider when you first discover you have to do independent research. These are:

TIME: How long do I have altogether? What other work do I have to do in that time? How long do I have to choose a topic before my research has to begin?

STYLE: What exactly are my tutors looking for? Go and talk to them if you're not sure.
INTERESTS: Can I pick a topic that I won't get bored with straight away?

If there's one subject you always wanted to know more about but never had the time, here's your chance. And if you pick something you really want to research, your interest and passion for the subject will come through in your writing. A good place to start is to look at areas of the subject you've done well at in the past. Let's say, for instance, you're studying literature, and the writing of Black British writers has always interested you and you've got good grades for your essays on the subject. Then you could pick the work of a particular author, say, Andrea Levy, as your research topic. This gives you the chance to delve deeper into a subject that you like, and increases that chances of you sticking with it and devoting a lot of time to it.

A WORD OF WARNING: Always check with your tutor/supervisor/professor that the subject you have picked is suitable BEFORE you start to research it.

Lastly, it helps if your school/college/university has a lot of resources on the subject you want to research. Check if there are plenty of books, articles, websites and other resources to get you started, and if there is a tutor with specialist knowledge in that area who will give you some pointers before you start.

Enjoy!

Learn more about this author, SC.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Tips for choosing a research topic?
We want to hear your view. Write now!