How can I find a topic for my research report? Suggested process

Adapted from: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/01/ Thesis statements Adapted from: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/01/

Questions to think about What topic areas/issues in the current business environment interest / annoy / surprise … me? Which of them are controversial, or contain controversial issues? Which do I know most about?

Note! Your eventual goal is not simply to vent your feelings on an issue but to support your views with valid information. So, steer clear of topics that are highly charged with emotion, or too complicated to be dealt with in a short essay

Then… Choose one Make a mind map / outline AND Brainstorm with others 

Take a provisional stand on the issue. Then … Try to write a one sentence thesis statement. (CLAIM) Decide on 3-4 points that best support your argument. (DATA) Then Start making an outline according to the Claim-Data-Warrant-Counterclaim-Rebuttal structure.

AND Start identifying Problems/Questions – suggested solutions/Answers – Rebuttals – New Problems …

Your topic / thesis / claim must be… Debatable ie a claim on which not all agree Narrow / focused ie specific in detail Supported by evidence ie not emotional

Are these useful thesis statements? a) Drug use is detrimental to society. b) Illegal drug use is detrimental because it encourages gang violence.

What about these? c) Pollution is bad for the environment. d) At least 25 percent of the government budget should be spent on limiting pollution.

e)At least 25 percent of the budget should be spent on helping upgrade businesses to clean technologies, researching renewable energy sources, and planting more trees in order to control or eliminate pollution

And this? Anti-pollution efforts should focus on privately owned cars. g) Anti-pollution efforts should focus on privately owned cars because it would allow most citizens to contribute to national efforts and care about the outcome.

Types of claims / thesis statements fact or definition - What some people refer to as global warming is actually nothing more than normal, long-term cycles of climate change. cause and effect - The popularity of SUV's in America has caused pollution to increase.

Types of claims / thesis statements value - Global warming is the most pressing challenge facing the world today. solutions or policies - Instead of drilling for oil in Alaska we should be focusing on ways to reduce oil consumption, such as researching renewable energy sources.

Your thesis statement develops as you read about your topic The North and South fought the Civil War for many reasons, some of which were the same and some different. While both sides fought the Civil War over the issue of slavery, the North fought for moral reasons while the South fought to preserve its own institutions.

While both Northerners and Southerners believed they fought against tyranny and oppression, Northerners focused on the oppression of slaves while Southerners defended their own right to self-government.

The type of claim you use… depends on your position viz a viz your claim your knowledge of your topic who your audience is, and how much and what you know about them the context of your paper

Key to your argumentation - identifying the controversy or debate you are addressing - defining your position early on in the paper.