1. Choosing a Topic 9410087A Penny 9410085A Janet 9410113A Chantel

2. Outline How to choose a topic Topics to avoid Narrowing the topic

3. Method 1.Try to find out the subject which is you are curious about or interest in. 2.OPAC (online public-access catalog) 3.CD-ROMs 4.Search the Internet ex, Google. you can insert “research paper topic of education”

4. 5. Encyclopedia LCSH (Library of Congress Subject Headings) Website: www.encyclopedia.comwww.encyclopedia.com

5. Topics to Avoid

6. 1. The topic is too big 1. The topic is too big There are too many sources, data, opinions, and books have been described about your topic. There are too many sources, data, opinions, and books have been described about your topic. Ex: The education of listening, speaking, reading, writing... Solution: Narrowing the topic but not to make it be unimportant. be unimportant.

7. 2. The topic relies on a single source Ex: A life of a famous or less famous person. Solution: the source must contain multiple sources, instead of the single aspect.

8. 3. The Topic is too technical The topic involves technical jargons Ex: medical terms, astronomy, geology…. Solution: Do not make your topic just focus on specific knowledge and try to make a topic which can be understood by any educated reader.

9. 4. The Topic is unimportant The topic is too obvious. Ex: The History of Baseball, Swimming is a good exercise… Solution: Do not make your topic which is boring with other readers.

10. 5. The topic that is overused 5. The topic that is overused The topic which is a heated public debate. Ex: abortion, the legalization of drugs, global warming …. Solution: Try to approach the topic from new angle.

11. 6. The topic is contemporary 6. The topic is contemporary Ex: some scandals, hot issues…. Reason 1 : It is difficult to find impartial source. Reason 2 : The information are not trusty and accurate enough. (newspaper, magazine)

12. Narrowing the Topic

13. There are two stage for narrowing the topic General subject > First Narrowing > Second Narrowing Ex 1: General subjectFirst NarrowingSecond Narrowing China Chinese Agriculture The effect on china of its agriculture policies during the past 10 years Health Obesity The connection between obesity and inheritance

14. Ex2 : To take Education for example General Subject : Education General Subject : Education Narrowing 1: Teachers & Students Narrowing 1: Teachers & Students Narrowing 2: Students Kindergarten Narrowing 2: Students Kindergarten Elementary Elementary Junior Junior Senior Senior College College Narrowing 3: Does the English songs can improve the Narrowing 3: Does the English songs can improve the listening ability of elementary students ? listening ability of elementary students ?

15. Good Luck