National University of Singapore

UWC2101H: Writing and Critical Thinking: Power, Space and Pleasure

Paper 3: Research Topic Workshop

From Area of Interest to Topic

The main purpose of this workshop will be to help you find a topic for Paper 3, which crucially also means a primary source. Think of today's workshop as an opportunity to receive feedback from classmates, and afterwards from me, on your ideas for the Paper 3 project. You need to decide on a project -- and hence a primary source -- for Paper 3 before the Library Instruction Tutorial.

In order for you to find a topic for your paper, you will need first to establish an area of interest. This is a broad area or subject, in this case, one relating to our module topic, which you find interesting. Once you've got an area of interest, you will then need to narrow it down to a topic. This topic needs to lend itself to analysis, so it will either need to relate to a specific text, or to be textual in nature. The text will present you with a case to examine, one which you attempt to understand better and will allow you to test the validity of a theory (or theories) as you apply it critically to the case. Check this handout for some ideas on how to move from a broad subject or area in which you are interested to a more narrowed-down topic.

During the workshop, you will work with fellow students in order to get, and give, feedback on potential paper topics. To prepare, go through these questions, and bring your answers to class:

1. In which area, related to our larger module topic, are you particularly interested? Think of our key terms: which of these might be especially interesting to you? But also think of your own interests, perhaps your own discipline: it is crucially important that you be genenuinely interested in the area which you will be narrowing down to a topic otherwise writing the paper will become a huge drag!
2. You could not write on this particular area of interest as expressed in a key term (or key terms), since it would be much too abstract, vague, and general. Therefore you will need to narrow it down to a particular case that relates to the area of interest by illustrating, qualifying, or complicating it: this would be much more focused, and you'd be getting closer to your topic. Your topic should be focused on a particular case.
3. It can be especially useful to think of a text as a case study: a particular case that tells us something about the larger area of interest. Once you've got a broad area of interest, one way of getting to a topic is to identify a text that relates to this area: a story, film, television show, statue, photograph, painting etc. Think of possible texts that might relate to your area of interest, choose one, and be prepared to explain how it relates to that area of interest. How it would relate to the area of interest would have something to do with a potential motive: a striking or puzzling thing about it that you find interesting, and that you would like to address given your area of interest. In other words, the case you investigate will function as a primary source.