ENGL 1030 Academic Argument Research Essay (Prof. Crew)

There are lots of ways to identify topics. See below for some tips to help you get started. Talk to your librarian if you need help.

• Make sure you find something that intrigues you, whether it's related to your studies, hobbies or current events. It should be narrow enough to manage the scope of this paper, but rich enough to sustain your interest.
• Try putting a general topic into a multidisciplinary library database such as Academic Search Complete and using the subject filter on the left to see what other subjects have been combined with that topic. 
• Search for the topic on Google Scholar to scan the most recent articles.
• Ask questions that target specific issues within your broader topic (examples below).
• Define the scope by limiting your topic to a particular time period, location, demographic or specific aspect. Consider the length of your assignment.
• Generate topics for your research paper with ChatGPT or similar tools. 

1. What specific type of media or platform will I focus on?
   • Example: Instead of "social media influence," narrow it to "the influence of TikTok on political engagement."
2. What time period in media history or development should I focus on?
   • Example: Narrow "the role of journalism" to "the role of journalism in the digital era (2010-2024)."
3. Which geographic region or media market am I interested in?
   • Example: Instead of "media censorship," focus on "media censorship in China" or "media freedom in Eastern Europe."
4. What demographic or audience group is affected by this media topic?
   • Example: Narrow "advertising strategies" to "the impact of social media advertising on Gen Z consumers."
5. Is there a specific media event or case study I can analyze?
   • Example: Narrow "media bias" to "media bias in the coverage of the Black Lives Matter movement."
6. What are the effects of this media trend or issue?
   • Example: Instead of "fake news," focus on "the effects of fake news on public trust in traditional news outlets."
7. What is the main debate or controversy surrounding this media topic?
   • Example: Narrow "AI in media" to "the ethical debate over AI-generated news content."
8. Can I focus on a specific media theory or analytical framework?
   • Example: Instead of "media representation," focus on "media framing theory in the portrayal of refugees in Western media."
9. Is there a particular solution or response related to this media issue?
   • Example: Narrow "online misinformation" to "the effectiveness of fact-checking initiatives on Facebook to combat misinformation."
10. What types of media sources or evidence will I explore?

• Example: Instead of "celebrity culture," focus on "the portrayal of celebrities in tabloid journalism versus mainstream news outlets."

These questions will help you focus your media topic, making it more specific and researchable for a 2000-word essay.