Writing in the Disciplines (WID) / Guide for Students 

A worthy topic is ESSENTIAL for any research and writing project to which you will be devoting time and energy.

Why?

• Well-crafted research, reasoning, and writing create new knowledge. You will contribute to the on-going scholarly conversation on your topic.
• When you are intellectually engaged with an appealing topic, you will be energized and motivated.

How?

• Think about how your own personal interests can intersect with the class topic.
• Do some initial research into the current scholarship on your tentative topic. Make sure there is sufficient ground upon which to base your provisional position.
• Be alert to which related academic disciplines are invested in the topic. Thinking about this will help you select useful places to look for the most current scholarship.
• Flexibility! If one line of inquiry isn’t working, be nimble and shift your scope, focus, position, or point of view. Keep an open mind.
• Search carefully for both the pros and cons of a proposed topic, argument, or position. Anticipate challenges.

Use separate copies of this form to consider, modify, focus, refine, or expand a number of different research questions. Be sure to frame your topic in the FORM OF A QUESTION, but not a yes-or-no question.

Here is an example. Click on it to open a better copy in a new window: