Blog Post #1 Choosing a Topic

Brainstorm Topic Ideas: Read, Talk, Sketch, Enjoy

Brainstorming topic ideas by freewriting thoughts and forming a mind map in which you can gather your feelings towards the topic and create a unique format for how you wish to write. This chapter analyzes how brainstorming ideas can help you to create the perfect research topic. The reading also heavily talks about mind maps and charts in which the researcher can gather their thoughts and write them down before jumping into writing. My favorite way to go about brainstorming that the chapter made me remember is using an upside-down triangle method. You take your initial thoughts, emotions, and ideas and write them all down and as you research and become more familiar with the topic you can right down more specific facts and ideas. As you narrow down your thoughts you began to create a more specific, unique topic for research rather than just a paper filled with random words or phrases. Taking the time to make a chart like this one has really benefitted my writing in the past.

The take away from this section of the reading was to take the time out to really think over, talk about, and consider multiple and even broad ideas before jumping into writing. Talking over your ideas can also help you to form a more concise path for which you should write about, classmates who aren't as familiar with your writing can help you to consider multiple writing methods prior to writing or researching for your paper.

There are many ways to go about choosing a topic, and I don't think there is one 'best way', I think it really depends on the person. My favorite is using a triangle chart, and discussing my ideas with peers.

You can avoid choosing a research topic that you already know the answer to by talking with peers to find out how much information you actually know about the topic. If you can really describe and explain it then you might want to choose a new topic.

I have not decided fully on my research question; however, I do have a community in mind. I want to research the Student Government Association at FSU. I was involved in SGA in high school and I would love to join in college.