Choosing a Topic!

Building an Interest Inventory...

Exercise 1.1- Steps 1-3 Choosing a topic!

The following exercise is used you to help me brainstorm ideas and draw conclusions for my research paper writing process. Below, a list of general words are listed with ideas that came to my mind that relate to the general words. Bruce Ballenger (The Curious Researcher), states that this will help with generating information that will eventually encourage my choice of topic for my paper. Some of the ideas listed are ideas that only make sense to me, but they show relevance and thought that will work their way into my paper.


PLACES:                                  CONTROVERSIES:


Alaska                                         Gay marriage                                    
Maine                                          Abortion
Europe                                         Legalization of Marijuana
Russia                                         The President
Costa Rica                                   North Korea
Montana                                      Welfare
Colorado                                      Unemployment
Virginia                                        Religion/ Religious influence in government
Lake Placid                                   The Death Penalty
Cape May                                     The Middle East
 North Korea                                 Global Warming
                                                     Cuba
                                                     Monsanto
                                                     Obesity in America
                                                     Gender Roles
                                                     White eggs vs. Brown eggs
                                                     Substance abuse in national sports
                                                     War
                                                     Reasons for Poverty in the United States
                                                     Is poverty a choice?
                                                     Should the United States be the "World's Police man?"
                                                     Population growth
                                                     National Debt
                                                     Foster Care


HISTORY:                                 JOBS:                                                     HOBBIES:


The Holocaust                            Social Worker                                            Riding Bike
The Civil War                            Police Officers                                            Rock Climbing
The Revolutionary War             Retail Store Cashier                                    Jogging
Elizabethan Poor Laws              Realtors                                                       fishing
COS Movement                         Farmers                                                       Hiking
Settlement House Movement     Military                                                       Hinting
The Constitution                        Architects                                                   Camping
Civil Rights Movement             Accountants                                                Cooking
CCC Workers                            Garbage Man                                              Knitting
Kennedy Assassination              Teachers                                                     farming
911                                              Fire Men                                                    Sports
Desert Storm                               Pastors                                                        Singing
Cold War                                     Electrician                                                 Playing an instrument
Vietnam War                               Restaurant Waiter                                     Watching movies
Korean War                                 Baker                                                          Baking
WWII                                                                                                             Shopping
WWI
Roaring twenties
Pearl Harbor
Crusades
Protestant Reformation
The Inquisition
French and Indian War
Crusades
Trail of Tears
Industrial Revolution
The Great Depression
Battle of Bunker Hill
French Revolution
The Reign of Terror
Genocide

Step 2:What items on the above list are things that I might be able to write about or that would spark an idea for a topic for my paper?

There are multiple issues/topic above that I find interesting and could easily research and write a decent paper on. I could write about social work and the many aspects of it's history and current situation that are listed on the list (I am a social work major). I could also write about some of the places I have listed above because there is controversy in some of those locations and others hold memories of mine because I have visited them before. As far as the jobs that I listed go, I could write about how they are effected by our current economy or how they have progressed over time. (Police Officers, Social Workers, Pastors, Electricians, etc.) However, if I have to choose one item it would be Foster Care and the controversies that surround it in society today.

Step 3: Now generate a list of questions based off of the item from your list that you chose in order to explore the subject.

Foster Care: What generates the controversy?, How can this controversy be avoided? What are the good things about foster care? What are the bad aspects of foster care? How does it affect the lives of the children who are put through it? Is the ending result better than the process itself?, Is there a problem with the government agencies? Is there a problem with the private agencies? Which type of agency generates more success stories?, Is it okay for foster kids to be placed with gay parents if the couple qualifies as suitable care givers?, Should a child get a say in what type of family they get to live with?, Should the age of release form the Foster Care program be higher, lowered or left where it is at?, Is there a way to give a better chance at life to the kids who age out of the system then by giving them a meager $200 and sending them onto the street?, Who should control the foster care system? The state of the Federal government?

Wrap-up:

Wow! This exercise actually made my options very clear and obvious when it came to narrowing down a topic. In fact, I got a bit carried away with my lists because I kept on thinking of ideas or topics to add to them. I actually quite enjoyed this exercise because it gave me a chance to be free with my ideas and let my mind wander to wherever my thoughts took it. This was  refreshing approach to choosing a topic and I am happy with my choice. Foster care is something I am very passionate about because my family did it 3 times and I now have 3 adopted siblings (along with my 3 biological siblings). This issue is near and dear to me and I hope that by researching it, I will find myself able to have an intelligent conversation about it and be able to understand it better. I recommend this technique if you ever find yourself having to chose a topic to write about. It worker for me, so there is not saying that it won't work for you!