Welcome to Research!
Step 1: Pick Your Topic.
Picking a topic is more than just finding a problem and brainstorming a solution - it's a process throughout your research. You need to...
- start with a problem/solution and figure out the core concepts (main ideas) driving each,
- brainstorm keywords for your core concepts,
- find some basic background information on individual concepts (and more keywords!),
- start searching for articles/data on your problem and solution,
- then refine your problem and solution to be specific, real, and something you can complete in one semester.
These steps are outlined in the next pages...
Picking Your Topic IS Research
Research is a Process
Research Question to Thesis Statement
Your research question will lead to your thesis statement. It will direct your research and your paper. Research questions are open-ended (can't be answered with a yes or no).
- Research question: Do comedic news channels increase or decrease the incidences of fake news sharing?
Your thesis statement is the claim you're making in your paper based on the answers you find to your research question.
- Thesis statement: Because they have funny and eye-catching headlines, comedic news sources increase the incidences of fake news sharing.
Research Process
