Check List for Choosing a Topic
- Have you chosen a topic which will hold your interest for a sustained period?
- Do you know what the current issues relating to this topic are?
- Have you found out who the leading experts / key writers are in this field and what reviews of the topic already exist?
- Do you have the support of your supervisor for your topic?
- Where are you going to find the appropriate background reading and other sources of information you need for this topic?
- Have you checked their availability?
- Are you going to do primary research? What access do you have to your area of interest? When are you going to do it? Have you discussed the practicality of it with your supervisor?
- Have you a clearly articulated position which you aim to test? (if appropriate)
- Are you sure that your topic is sufficiently focused?
- Does it respond to a question and/or present an argument?
- Have you a clear, manageable research question?
Researching the Topic
Choosing your topic will involve a considerable amount of initial research. Research involves locating key sources. There are two kinds of sources:
a) Primary or original sources. These could be a mediaeval manuscript, a poem, a photograph, the records of an institution, a dress, an interview…
b) Secondary or interpretative sources i.e. papers/articles/books written about a subject.
Each source/text is written/produced from a perspective and has a specific function. Interpretation, therefore, depends not only on the content, but also the context. In other words, don’t take everything at face value. Notice and make note of the position that is being taken by theauthor/producer. An essential part of a good Thesis is commenting on the different position’s authors take.
There are four main stages to research:
• Researching the research
• Planning the research
• Doing the research
• Finishing the research