If you are asked to develop your own subject for a research paper, how can you decide which of the subjects you have brainstormed shows the most promise? Start with these four guidelines:
1. Time. The amount of time you have to write influences every writing situation, but especially when it comes to writing a research paper. Since there are so many aspects of this situation that are out of your control- such as availability of research materials - it is critical that you select a subject that you can complete in the time you have been allotted.
2. Length. The length of the paper is also a factor in your choice of subjects. It will obviously take you much longer to write a 50-page research paper than it will to write a 10-page research paper. Weigh this consideration as you select a subject. The shorter the paper and the longer the time you have to write, the more leeway you have to select a challenging subject.
3. Research. The type of research you use also determines the subject you select. For instance, if your assignment specifies that you use primary sources, such as letters, interviews, and eyewitness accounts, you might not wish to do a paper on Shakespeare, since there are relatively few primary sources available and they are difficult to read. Conversely, if your assignment specifies that you use secondary sources such as critical reviews, a paper on one of Shakespeare's plays would be very suitable.
4. Sources. The number of sources you must use and their availability is also a factor in your choice of a subject. If you have access to a major university library with a million or more volumes and extensive free databases, you're probably going to find the material you need. But if you don't have an extensive library in your area or access to high-quality databases, it might be much harder for you high-quality databases, it might be much harder for you to get the secondary material you need. In this case, you might want to consider a subject that requires more primary sources such as experiments, interviews, and surveys.
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