1. Brainstorming for a Research Topic 2011

2. Your research paper must have an argument Therefore, your topic must be open ended and malleable to form yes or no questions. Eventually you will narrow this topic into a nice essential question—always keep this in mind as you are brainstorming.

3. There are 3 categories that are successful Career interest Hobby interest Social issues

4. Career interest Make a list…  List at least 3 careers that you might be interested in and for each career, in 1-2 sentences explain what you find fascinating about that career.

5. Career List https://www1.cfnc.org/ExternalScripts// Career_Center/default.asp https://www1.cfnc.org/ExternalScripts// Career_Center/default.asp

6. Career Interest REMEMBER: your paper must be argumentative so this won’t just be a report of “facts” about that career. You must come up with an idea about something specific and controversial within that career.

7. Example Anthropology & linguistics:  Many anthropologists develop strong linguistic skills to aid their study of human cultures. Anthropologists with linguistics degrees can quickly decode writing and other artifacts from ancient cultures. They can also discern the distinctions between regional dialects when studying modern societies. Ask yourself: what can I research that has two sides to an issue surrounding this career?

8. Sample EQ How does developing skills in linguistic science help one decode artifacts in ancient cultures?

9. Brainstorm Editor

10. Hobby Interest List at least three hobbies you have or would be interested in knowing more about. These can be…  Sports  Arts  Crafts  Skills  Entertainment

11. Hobby Interest REMEMBER: your paper must be argumentative so this won’t just be a report of “facts” about that hobby. You must come up with an idea about something specific and controversial within that hobby.

12. Example 2 Wakeboarding:

13. Sample EQ Does the very nature of extreme sports discourage women participants

14. Brainstorm: List at least 3 issues associated with the hobby Ballet Negative Male image Prestige in “traditional cultures” Usage in sports

15. Social issues List at least three controversial social issues. Then, list 3 arguments and 3 counterarguments for each issue in a T chart

16. Devaluation of elderly Increased euthanasia Increase in nursing home occupants and negative conditions in nursing homes Decreased gov’t funding for elderly Still taught to respect our elders Increase in nursing homes equals an increase in value for wellbeing Movies/entertainme nt still celebrate ideas of elderly as wise