WW 9 Research Topics

WRITING THE MLA (8th ed.) RESEARCH PAPER

PREWRITING: PLANNING AND RESEARCHING

Choosing a Topic

Directions:

To begin writing your research paper, you will need to understand what MLA research papers are. Click here to see a sample paper that is labeled and explained.
Next you need to choose a topic (unless one has been assigned) that you can write about in a paper that will have a body several pages long. Ask your teacher for the exact required length.
Your topic should not be something that needs a whole book to explain it.
On the other hand, your topic shouldn't be so narrow that you can't find enough information.
Pick a topic that interests you from the list below or get your own idea approved by your teacher. (Language Arts/English teachers often will ask you to write a paper in response to a work of literature. Please see the item in green listed below.

Possible Topics

Affirmative Action – Is affirmative action still necessary to allow people of minority races, genders, or religions a fair chance to get a job, an education, or housing?
Capital Punishment – Should people who commit terrible crimes be sentenced to death? If so, what crimes should be punished this way? What is the purpose of the death penalty?
Censorship – Should there be limits to free speech? Are television, movies, and song lyrics too violent? Do they negatively affect children?
Civil Disobedience – Is it okay to break a law that is unfair?
Cloning – Should scientists be allowed to create duplicate humans out of human cells? What would be the advantages and disadvantages?
Eating Disorders – Are they caused by mass media showing that very thin people are more attractive than others? What can be done to solve the problem?
Euthanasia – Should a person be allowed to ask for help in ending his/her life?
Fetal Tissue/Stem Cells – Should tissue from aborted or stillborn babies be used to cure diseases?
Family – Are families falling apart? Are they important? What are good ways to raise children and teenagers?
Genetic Engineering – Should scientists be allowed to improve humans by changing their genes?
Global Warming – Is it a real problem?
Homelessness – Should homeless people be put in jail? What should be done with them?
Literature -- What are three reasons why a particular work of literature is worth reading? OR What theme does an author communicate in his/her work and how does he/she communicate that theme? (Discuss the genre, form, figures of speech, symbols, cultural context, and the author's life experiences.)
Paranormal Phenomena – Is there life after death? Are there people who can tell the future or communicate only with their minds? Are there aliens from other planets?
PETA – Do animals have rights? Should organizations like PETA act the way they do to protect animals?
Stress – What causes it and how can we learn to reduce it?
Technology – Is it changing our lives for the better or worse?