1 Selecting a Topic of Essay or Research Topic

7/30/2019 1 Selecting a Topic of Essay or Research Topic

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The following steps used in selecting essaytopic

1. Write about what you know2. Identify your audience3. Decide on the purpose of the essay4. Select a topic that will interest your audience


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You need to decide the pattern of your essay

organization


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What causes people to lose their

jobs? (cause and effect) UNEMPLOYMENT How to combat Unemployment?

(Problem Solution)

Unemployment in Indonesia inthe 60s and in the 90s(Comparison and Contrast)


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What causes people to havespeaking anxiety? (Cause-Effect)

Speaking Anxiety How to overcome the speakingAnxiety? (Problem-Solution)

Speaking anxiety experiencedby high school and universitystudent. (Comparison-Contrast)


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It needs to do the following steps, if you wantto choose your research topic:

1. Brainstorm for ideas2. Read general background information3. Focus on manageable topic4. Make a list of useful keywords5. Be flexible

6. Define your topic as a focused research question7. Research and read more about your topic8. Formulate a thesis statement

(WSU Stewart Library)


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Step 1: BRAINSTORM YOUR IDEAChoose a topic that interests you

You may use the following questions to generate

your topic idea:1. Do you have a strong opinion on current teaching

strategy?2. Did you read a newspaper article, journal, book, or other

learning sources which triggered your curiosity?3. Do you have a personal issue, problem , or interest that

youd like to know more about?4. Is there an aspect of one of your courses you are interested

in learning more about?


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Step 2: Read General Background Information1. Read a general encyclopedia article on the top two

or three topics you are considering; to get an

overview or see how your idea relates to broader,narrower and related issues

2. Read magazine, journal, or newspaper article on

the topic; use article databases3. Find web sites which relate to your topic


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Step 3: Focus on Your Topic1. Keep it manageable; it is very difficult to research

if it is too broad or too narrow

your topic: teaching strategy; by performance ofteacher, by subject matter, by interaction with

students, etc

1. Avoid broadly interdisciplinary topic


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Step 4: make a list of useful keywords1. Look for words that best describe your topic

2. These words will be found in the reading you do

while selecting your topic3. Find synonyms, broader and narrower terms for

each key word you find in order to expand your

search capabilities


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Step 5: be flexible

You are free to modify your topic during theresearch process


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Step 6: define your topic as a focusedresearch questionfor example;

Idea: Teaching strategy can achieve the studentsacademic score

Research question: in what term do the teachingstrategy achieve the student academic score?

A focused research question: what is the mosteffective strategy used to motivate students tolearn?


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Step 7: research and read more about yourtopic

1. Use the key words you have gathered to researchin catalog, article database, and internet searchengine

2. You will need to do some research and reading

before you select your final topic


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Step 8: formulate a thesis statement1. Write your topic as a thesis statement; thesis

statement could be one or two sentences that

state precisely what is to be answered, proven, orwhat you will inform your audience about yourtopic

2. the development of thesis assumes that there is

sufficient evidence to support the thesis statement3. The title of your paper may not be exactly the

same as your research question or thesis

statement

1 Selecting a Topic of Essay or Research Topic

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