Freddie Thompson

Developing a Paper Topic

When developing a paper topic consider the following:

What is your general paper topic?

Write one sentence explaining what your paper will discuss. This will be your thesis statement in your introduction and conclusion of your paper. If you would like additional information regarding thesis statements, please see the “Thesis Statement” section on the Writing Center Community Group page under “Content” then “Academic Essay Writing.”

Many students pick a topic and begin writing before they consider if the topic meets the paper requirements. Should your paper be two pages long or fifteen pages long? Does your instructor require a research or narrative paper? Consider your instructor’s requirements for your paper carefully and choose your topic accordingly.

Can your paper topic be divided into three to five sections/subtopics?

If no, consider a different topic.

If yes, these items will become the body of your paper. The body of your paper contains paragraphs that discuss the sections/subtopics of your paper. Usually the body of a paper will have at least three paragraphs, each discussing a separate section of your main topic.

Is your topic too broad or to narrow?

A topic needs to be neither too narrow nor too broad. For example, the theory of evolution would be a topic for a book, not a paper. The theory of evolution has many subtopics, such as the forming of the earth, the beginning of life, the evolving of simple life forms, the evolving of mammals, creation vs. evolution, etc.

You will need a broad enough topic to meet your paper requirements, but a narrow enough topic so that you will not be overwhelmed. Consider again the previous topic; a writer might instead choose the topic of why he or she believes the earth was only formed one million years ago.