Rhetoric and Composition Research Guide

The first step toward a successful research paper is selecting a topic that is neither too broad nor too narrow.

If you have the freedom to choose your own topic, be sure to choose a topic that will sustain your interest. Additionally, the topic should be one you can research sufficiently in the time allowed, research using the tools and resources readily available to you, read about in a language you read well, and that your professor deems suitable for your assignment.

Start with a broad topic area (this might already be decided for you as a requirement of a course) and narrow this down to select a specific topic for your paper so that you don’t waste time wading through too much information.

When deciding upon a topic, remember these three rules:

1. Decide the area you are interested in writing about  (ex:  global warming)
2. Define the topic you wish to research (ex:  effects of global warming on children)
3. Refine the topic area so that the topic is manageable - neither too large nor too small (ex: effects of global warming on children in New Zealand where the ozone is the weakest)

Deciding on a topic you'd like to write about and defining the parameters of your research is one of the most challenging and important aspects of the research process. If you need more help with this step, consult your professor or look for ideas in the research guides which have been prepared by the subject librarians.

• What questions do you want to ask/answer in your paper?

• What about that topic do you want to address through your research?  

• What do you want to prove/disprove about your topic?

Do you have a topic but don't know how or where to start researching it?

It's ok!  You don't need to be an expert on a topic to do a report about it.
Review your class assignment, looking for keywords or terms that can help you define your topic. Use these keywords to search the library catalogs and databases. Also note what types of sources your instructor requires, for example, book chapters, newspaper articles, magazine articles, or peer-reviewed journal articles.

A good place to start (especially if you don't know much about your topic), is the Library Catalog to help you find books that give you general information. Encyclopedias are good for concise explanations and contextual data. A librarian can recommend the best encyclopedias or other reference materials you may want to use.

Build on your basic information and skills. Avail yourself to information in all formats: Books (on the shelves and online); Periodicals (journal, magazine, newspaper articles both on the shelves and through databases); Digital media (videos, CD-ROMs, DVDs, etc.); and even some Internet sites.

For assistance in developing the most efficient research strategy and identification of local resources, contact a reference librarian at the library or via Ask Us.

Which resources do I need?

Next, you need to build on the basic information you've gathered by researching your topic across other formats and resources like books, periodicals, databases, etc.  Deciding where to search and what resource you need can be determined in part by the kind of information you are looking for:

• Do you need articles from academic/scholarly sources? 
• Do they need to be Peer-Reviewed? 
• Do you need articles from a newspaper or other current-event source? 
• Do you need statistics or other data? 
• Does the information you are looking for need to be research-based?
• Are you looking for primary sources, archived information, digital collections? 

Some of these questions may be answered by the subject you are researching or the parameters of the assignment you are working on. 

Where should you go to begin your research? What are some good general databases to use? Where can I go to develop my topic a little more?

Let us introduce you to the FIU Libraries' Research: Start portal!