Choosing and Narrowing Research Topics for APA & MLA Essays

Summary

This script offers a structured approach to selecting and refining a research paper topic. It emphasizes the significance of personal interest and prior knowledge in choosing a topic, and outlines three critical filters: theme, place, and time. The script exemplifies this process with a case study on Blackwater USA, illustrating how to formulate a debatable, plausible, and consequential research question. It concludes with an example of a well-structured research paper outline, highlighting the importance of a clear and engaging title, focused research question, and the application of the three filters.

Takeaways

• 📘 The initial step in writing a research paper is crucial as it sets the direction for the entire project.
• 🔍 Choosing a research topic should involve a process of narrowing down to a specific and manageable subject.
• 🤔 A good research topic must be debatable, meaning there are differing viewpoints and it's not a settled issue.
• 🧩 To be plausible, a topic should have solid reasoning and support from published sources.
• 🌟 The topic's outcome should be consequential, meaning it has significant implications or importance.
• 💡 Personal interest in the topic can greatly influence the quality and ease of writing the research paper.
• 📚 Leveraging previous experience or research background knowledge can save time and effort.
• 📍 Applying filters such as theme, place, and time can help refine the research topic to a specific scope.
• ❓ Formulating a research question is essential and it should be tested for debateability, plausibility, and consequence.
• 📝 The final research question should not be a simple yes/no question but should invite exploration and analysis.
• 📖 The example given illustrates how to structure a research paper with a catchy title, clear filtering, and a thought-provoking research question.

Q & A

What is the importance of choosing and narrowing a research paper topic?

Choosing and narrowing your research paper topic is a critical first step because it determines how long it will take to reach the goal of a polished paper. A well-defined topic ensures focused research and writing.

What are the three key tests for a workable research paper topic?

A valid research paper topic must be debatable, plausible, and consequential. Debatable means there are multiple points of view, plausible means you can support your stance with evidence, and consequential means the topic has significance or impact.

Why is it important to choose a topic you are personally interested in?

Personal interest and motivation are key factors in how well you will write and how easy or difficult the writing process will be. A topic you are passionate about will keep you engaged and motivated.

What role does previous experience or background knowledge play in topic selection?

Previous experience or background knowledge can save time and effort when working on a research paper, as you will already have a foundation of information and understanding to build upon.

What are the three filters you should apply after choosing your research paper topic?

The three filters are theme (slant, focus, or point of view), place, and time. These filters help narrow the scope of your research to make it more manageable.

Can you provide an example of applying the filters to a research topic?

For a paper on the private security firm Blackwater USA (now known as Z), you might choose the theme of legal accountability, the place of Iraq, and the time period of 2004-2010, focusing on the American invasion and occupation of Iraq.

What is a research question, and why is it important?

A research question is the central question your paper seeks to answer. It is important because it provides direction for your research and writing, ensuring that your paper is focused and coherent.

How do you test if a research question is valid?

A valid research question should be debatable, plausible, and consequential. It should allow for different viewpoints, be backed by evidence, and address a significant issue or problem.

Why is it important for a research question not to be a yes/no question?

A research question should not be a yes/no question because it limits the depth of analysis. A good research question encourages exploration and discussion of multiple perspectives.

What is an example of a well-constructed research question from the script?

An example of a well-constructed research question is: 'Under whose laws should the employees of Blackwater USA be held responsible for their conduct in Iraq?' This question is debatable, plausible, and consequential.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Choosing and Narrowing Your Research Paper Topic

The paragraph emphasizes the significance of the initial step in writing a research paper, which is selecting and narrowing down a topic. It suggests a structured approach to this process, involving brainstorming and applying three tests to ensure the topic is debatable, plausible, and consequential. The paragraph also advises choosing a topic that sparks personal interest and leverages any previous experience or research background. It introduces three filters to refine the topic: theme (or slant/focus), place, and time. An example is given where the topic is narrowed down to the legal accountability of Blackwater USA (now known as Academi) in Iraq during 2004 to 2010. The paragraph concludes with the formulation of a research question that must pass the three tests of being debatable, plausible, and consequential.

05:01

🔍 Crafting a Consequential Research Question

This paragraph focuses on the importance of formulating a consequential research question after narrowing down the topic. It uses the example of Blackwater USA to illustrate how the research question should be crafted to be debatable, plausible, and of significant consequence. The example provided is a question about the legal accountability of Blackwater's employees in Iraq, which is a matter of life and death, justice, and is under the scrutiny of the global community. The paragraph concludes with a reminder to test the research question for its debate-ability, plausibility, and consequence, and wishes the writer good luck with their research paper topic.

Keywords

💡Research Paper

A research paper is an academic document that presents original research results. It is a critical part of higher education and is often a requirement for graduation. In the context of the video, the research paper is the main focus, as the speaker guides viewers through the process of selecting and narrowing down a topic for their paper. The script emphasizes the importance of choosing a topic that is debatable, plausible, and consequential, which are key criteria for a successful research paper.

💡Debatable

In the video, 'debatable' refers to a topic that has multiple viewpoints and is not entirely settled. It implies that there is room for discussion and disagreement, which is essential for a research paper topic. The speaker uses the example of different legal systems debating the laws that should apply to Blackwater USA employees, illustrating how a debatable topic can lead to a rich and engaging research paper.

💡Plausible

Plausibility in the context of the video means that a research paper topic should be supported by valid reasons and evidence. The speaker suggests that this support often comes from published sources, indicating that a plausible topic is one that can be substantiated with credible references. This is crucial for building a strong argument in a research paper.

💡Consequential

A consequential topic, as described in the video, is one that has significant implications or outcomes. The speaker emphasizes that a research paper topic should not only be debatable and plausible but also matter in a broader context. The example given is the legal accountability of Blackwater USA employees, which is a matter of life and death, justice, and world opinion, thus making it a consequential topic.

💡Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a creative process used to generate ideas, often at the beginning stages of a project like a research paper. The video script mentions brainstorming as a method to sort through preliminary ideas and apply the three tests of a good research paper topic: debatability, plausibility, and consequence.

💡Personal Interest

Personal interest is highlighted in the video as a key factor in choosing a research paper topic. The speaker suggests that selecting a topic that arouses personal interest can lead to better writing and increased motivation. This is important because the passion and engagement of the writer can significantly impact the quality and depth of the research paper.

💡Previous Experience/Research Background Knowledge

The video script advises leveraging previous experience or research background knowledge when choosing a research paper topic. This can save time and effort during the research process. The speaker implies that familiarity with a subject can provide a solid foundation for a more efficient and effective research paper.

💡Filters

Filters, as discussed in the video, are criteria used to narrow down a research paper topic. The speaker outlines three filters: theme (or slant, focus, point of view, unifying idea), place, and time. These filters help to refine a broad topic into a more specific and manageable research question, as demonstrated with the example of focusing on the legal accountability of Blackwater USA in Iraq during a specific period.

💡Research Question

A research question is a specific query that guides the investigation in a research paper. The video emphasizes the importance of generating a research question after filtering the topic. The speaker provides an example: 'Under whose laws should Blackwater USA employees be held responsible for their conduct in Iraq?' This question is tested for its debatability, plausibility, and consequence, which are essential qualities for a strong research question.

💡Legal Accountability

Legal accountability is a theme used in the video to demonstrate how to apply a filter to a research paper topic. It refers to the obligation to account for one's actions under the law. In the context of the video, the speaker uses legal accountability as the focus for a research paper on Blackwater USA, exploring under which jurisdiction the company's employees should be held responsible for their actions in Iraq.

Highlights

The importance of choosing and narrowing your research paper topic is emphasized as it sets the pace for completing a polished paper.

A valid research paper topic must be debatable, plausible, and consequential to ensure it meets academic standards.

Debatable topics have differing viewpoints and are not entirely settled, allowing for reasonable disagreement.

Plausibility in a topic requires offering valid reasons and support, often from published sources.

Consequential topics have significant outcomes that matter to a broader audience or field of study.

Three steps to narrow a research paper topic are outlined: choosing, filtering, and questioning.

Personal interest in a topic is crucial for motivation and the quality of writing.

Previous experience or research background knowledge can save time and effort in the research process.

Applying filters such as theme, place, and time helps to refine the research topic's focus.

An example using Blackwater USA (now known as Academi) illustrates how to apply theme, place, and time filters.

Generating a research question is the next step after filtering, aiming to guide the research direction.

The example research question explores legal accountability of Blackwater USA employees in Iraq.

The research question is tested for debateability, plausibility, and consequence to ensure its validity.

The example paper's title 'Murder and Mayhem: Blackwater USA and Iraq' captures attention and summarizes the paper's focus.

The final research question should not be a simple yes/no question but should invite exploration and analysis.

The process of narrowing a research paper topic is concluded with tips for generating a compelling research question.

Transcripts

an ancient Chinese proverb tells us the

longest journey begins with the first

step

never has that saying been more true

than when it comes to writing your

research paper this critical first step

of choosing and narrowing your topic

will determine how long it takes you to

reach your goal of a polished paper

that's why it's important at this stage

of choosing and narrowing and filtering

your specific topic to follow a set

process of steps as you do those three

things now once you have chosen your

preliminary topic it's time to

brainstorm as you begin sorting through

these very preliminary ideas try

applying these three tests a valid

workable research paper topic will pass

all three tests making it debatable

plausible and consequential debatable

simply means that different points of

view exist the issue isn't entirely

settled and reasonable people may have

disagreement over some aspects of it to

be plausible you must be able to offer

valid reasons and support for your

position often this support comes from

published sources finally although a

topic may be debatable was solid and

plausible reasoning the outcome must be

of consequence

now with that information is background

let's walk through the three steps that

I want you to follow when narrowing your

research paper topic and they are

choosing filtering questioning when it

comes to choosing a topic if you've

heard this advice before good because

it's very true try to choose a topic

that has aroused your personal interest

some issue you've connected with more

than others personal interest and

motivation are huge factors and how well

you will write and how easy or difficult

writing will be now the next criterion

for choosing previous experience or

research background knowledge can save

you time and headache as you work on

this project so take advantage of it if

you can okay you've chosen a topic that

you're personally interested in and that

you're motivated to write about terrific

now here are three filters that I want

you to apply after you have chosen that

topic first theme also call slant focus

point of view unifying idea second place

third time let's watch these filters in

action

let's say that in some class you want to

focus on the private security firm

formerly known as Blackwater USA and

today known as Z your slant focus theme

or point of view will be legal

accountability now that is certainly not

the only slant or theme you could have

taken another theme could have been

treatment of its employees or political

connections or arms smuggling so clearly

you chose only one of many possible

slants or themes place Iraq now

Blackwater Z operates all over the world

and the US where it was used in New

Orleans after Katrina so you definitely

need to choose a specific place time

let's say 2004 to 2010 so the paper will

focus on the period of the American

invasion and occupation of that country

after filtering your topic you're now

ready to generate your research question

everything you do after you generate

this question will be an attempt to

answer it satisfactorily okay here's the

question under whose laws should the

employees of Blackwater USA be held

responsible for their conduct in Iraq

is that a good question let's test it

first

is it debatable yes the Iraqi government

the US Congress and world courts are all

debating what laws if any should apply

the Uniform Code of Military Justice

Iraqi law Geneva Conventions u.s.

criminal law u.s. civil law all are up

in the air right now and will likely be

for some time to come next is this

question plausible yes all sides are

offering strong legal claims to support

their positions finally is this topic

consequential yes it's really a matter

of life and death justice and injustice

the court of world opinion is watching

and waiting the outcome of this debate

okay I'd like to close with an example

of what your work should look like after

you have finished this exercise first is

the titles murder and mayhem Blackwater

USA and Iraq hmm murder mayhem

definitely got my attention but more

importantly it also summarizes what this

paper is going to discuss what it's

about next here's the filtering and

number two place Iraq then the time

filter and then finally the most

important filter that a theme or slant

legal accountability third and last here

is that all-important research question

please note that it is not a yes/no

question here it is under whose laws

should Blackwater USA employees be held

accountable for actions in Iraq now once

you have generated that research

question don't forget to test it for

it's a debate ability its plausibility

and it's consequent she a leti okay

there you go good luck with your

research paper topic