How Do I Choose a Topic for My Term paper, Essay or Research Paper?

Choosing essay topics is a frustrating experience.  Usually students should choose essay topics for their writing assignments. When you have chosen the essay topic, you have the second problem – to write an essay, term paper or research paper that corresponds for that selected essay topic. For example, let's say that you choose a subject, narrow it to a topic, and create a thesis statement. Then you set off to find the information you need. Once you start looking at sources, however, you discover that there is too much material on the topic or not enough material on the topic. In this case, you might go back to the previous step and rework your thesis to accommodate your findings and the new direction your work has taken. Of course, you always have the option of sticking with your original thesis and creating the research material you need.

Here's another common occurrence. You think you have found all the material you need and so you start writing. But part way through your first draft, you find that you're missing a key piece of information, a crucial fact, an essential detail. To plug the hole, you'll go back and find the material - even though you are, in effect, repeating a step in the process. That's fine.
The process presented in this book is effective, but remember that one size may not fit all. As a result, you may find yourself adapting the information here to fit your particular writing style. Now, turn to the first step in the process of writing a research paper, selecting a subject.