Pre-Writing Steps

 There are three main steps involved before you actually write your research paper.

These steps are:

                a.             Choosing a topic

                b.             Narrowing a topic

                c.             Outlining ideas

 a.             Choosing a topic

 The first thing involved in writing a research paper is to choose a topic.  You should choose a topic which reflects your interest and understanding.  Think over the topics that really interest you.  Next make a short list of possible topics.  Then choose the topic which seems most promising.

b.             Narrowing a topic

 The next step is to narrow your topic down to a small, workable unit.  For example, the topic you have chosen is “Skin Cancer”.  This topic can be narrowed down to a more specific topic:

Activity

 Look at how the topic “Tourist Spots in Malaysia” has been narrowed down.

A. Supply the most specific topic you can think of in the blanks provided.

  1.

   Information Technology

 Computers

 Uses of Computers

 __________________________________________________________________

 2.

                                                 The Decline of the English Language

 The Decline of English in Malaysia

 The Decline of English among Malaysian students

Factors contributing to the declining standard of English among Malaysian students

 __________________________________________________________________

 3.                                                                                                               

  Illnesses

   Incurable illnesses

Multiple Sclerosis

___________________________________________________________________

B.       Narrow the following topics to reach an interesting, specific topic for investigation:

 1.                                                                                                 

 Cigarette Smoking

 _______________________________

 _________________________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________

2.                                                                                                                                          Politics

 ____________________________

 ________________________________________________

 ____________________________________________________________________

3.                                                                Newspaper

 ____________________

 _______________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

4.                                                                Television

 ______________________

 _______________________________________________ 

______________________________________________________________________

 5.                                                       The Greenhouse Effect

 ___________________________

 ___________________________________________

 _________________________________________________________________

B.       Get into small groups.  Brainstorm three or more topics between you to practise narrowing them into interesting, specific topics.  If you have already selected your topics for the Academic Report, discuss in your group whether or not your topic is specific enough for a short investigation.

 You should now be in a position to begin researching your topic with a degree of focus.  You can select sources which discuss your specific topic as well as the general topic.

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