I've got to write a 2500 word research paper for english class. I am suppose to pick my own topic, but the professor said it cant be something extremely popular thats been written about before, like the death penalty or abortion. I was wondering if you guys could help me come up with some ideas. What's a good research question that someone would really want to know the answer to, that I can write 2500 words on?

 

There was a thread on here about pressure treated lumber being banned. You could write about what pt is, the different types, the dangers of it, the attempts to ban it and the new products that will replace it. That ought to get you 2500 words.

There was also a thread on how halloween got started. You could trace it from the beginning and if you needed more, write about how it's celebrated in other lands.

Just skim though the GC and Pig Pen forums and you can find all sorts of ideas.

Here's another, there was a thread on how teenagers are using code words so they can talk about stuff without their parents catching on. You might show how it's changed from 50 years ago to now.

I'm 63 and haven't had to do this since English 101 back 40 years ago, so maybe this won't work today, but maybe it will help.

How long do you have before you have to turn it in?

 

I did a research paper on alternative fuels. Lots of info on that topic.

 

I just did a 1K word paper on "A Role Model".
Not that bad, took about 1.5 hours to complete. (IN my college English class) I have a paper for my Criminal Justice class due Oct. 15th. 10 pages long, and we can write about ANYTHING in the CJ system. I also am looking for anything you guys can think of. I'm not looking for a BIG paper (such as "the history of the FBI), just something I can fit on 10 pages.

 

It's not due for awhile, but i'm supose to have my topic by the end of the night tonight. Then start looking for resources during the week.

 

hmmm, lets see, there is the way drugs are changing our society, and other good stuff like what are the effects on our society and us as individuals,of biased media coverage, /t.v influences/violent games, the decaying morality, the slow death of empathy in our young people, the effects of N.A.F.D.A.on our economy, effects of raising children in a "am not responsible for any thing I do, society", the effects of no consequences for ones actions, the effects of no religion vs religion, effects of overwhelming greed, effects of broken homes, broken marriages, the effects of the new economy on white collar / blue collar workers, the long reaching effects of sept 11, preparing for employment in a country to where high tech is going overseas and manual labor is going to the influx of immigrants, avoiding the pitfalls of those that are failing in life, effects of our floundering educational system graduating young people that cannot speak Engish properly and cannot do basic math, what is wrong with our economic system when a nuerosurgeon makes 1.5 million a year, yet pays 600,000 yearly for malpractice insurance and is saving lives daily ,while a ball player that "slid"" thru college, makes seven mil a year catching a ball ? the effects of people helping people in distress, finding the good in people, the importance of family and heritage, dealing with adversity in ones life, what can the young people starting out in today's world do to become a cog in the big gear ,to help cure any of the the above listed ailments? the list could be endless, I quit now,

P.S. Best of luck to you on your project ! And please dont be distressed about the topics I listed, they are REAL, but not everyone feels the same effect from them. It always depends on what rung in the ladder of life your standing on, as to what extent you have to deal with any of the topics I listed.

 

MBNV992 - How about capital punishment? We had a discussion on this in Pig Pen.
Dono

 

A research paper? I take it that you have to have a thesis of some sort.

Societal changes are always worth a look at for a paper if you are willing to do a bunch of reading (much of which will not be used), and (sometimes) if you are sure you know what side of the tracks your instructor sits on. Writing a paper about something women did poorly, or to men, for a feminist professor won't get ya very far...

My most in-depth paper was titled 'The Disassociation of Community', in which I got to cite, oh, perhaps 13 different writers - one of which was the Unabomber (his manifesto was quite a read...). But the amount of reading, and trips to various libraries, I did was exhaustive.

Based on my one paper for history class, professors do appreciate reading about something different. Instead of writing a paper about typical historical topics, this instructor gave us choices, and I chose one that no-one in the instructor's three Hx classes, chose - the Grange movement.

"The Grange had played an important role by demonstrating that farmers were capable of organizing and advocating a political agenda. After witnessing the eclipse of its advocacy efforts by other groups, the Grange reverted to its original educational and social events. These have sustained the organization to the present day."
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h854.html

If you need any help with that paper Justin, please don't hesitate to ask. Plagarism isn't allowed, but having people proof-read your writing is a must.

Best,

 

I hate this crap, I can't stand this. This semester of college is just awful, useless informatoin.

 

Mustanggt221, try not to get a bad attitude about it. Schools have been teaching this stuff for years and years. It's supposed to round you out and make you a better person. Try to go with the flow and do the best job you can. Think of it as castor oil for the soul, gird up your loins and plug on through it. Ra Ra sis boom bah. I trust you are now sufficiently motivated.

 

i find its best to write about things that **** you off, as you will take a strong interest, or things that you feel strongly about...my 2 bits

 

You could write a paper on the rights of citizens to own firearms, but given its a COLLEGE PROFFESSOR you better come to the conclusion that that eveyone who owns one should be jailed or else you will get an "F". I wrote a college paper on Alcohol and Youth, started out as a joke but mistakes where made and I actually learned something.

 

Bubba Shrimp, you sure hit the nail on the head. I went to college (for the second time) thinking that there really wasn't much they could get me to think about that I hadn't already thought about (heck, I could already hold a conversation with anyone on just about anything), but my professors proved me wrong. They didn't do it by bringing up new subjects or ideas (as much - my 400-level 'Space Colonization' English class sure introduced me to realms I hadn't explored as much), but they did it by requiring I think through my ideas and theories as I wrote and spoke. In the end it really probably does improve most people, but of course college isn't for everyone.

(Hey Bubba, I did finally move to Florida)

For the most part, I found that those of us who attended college as adults - like Justin - enjoy the experiences (yes, even English classes) all the more (at least that was the consensus in the adult-learner meeting rooms).

Vanhecht, I'm not sure I agree with your suggestion - but I'm not sure I disagree either. I see value in writing about some opposite of what one believes to better understand what one's own opinion, too. Also, some writers get diverted or use subjective approaches in organizing and writing about what they feel too strongly about. This can leave flaws in a paper that a professor will cringe at.

Best,

 

Here is one:

"The type of nitwits it took to install torsion bar IFS 4x4 on the 98-99 Ranger and think it was a good idea".

But . . you'd have to find out up front whether profanity would be tallied towards the total word count. If not, you'd be hard pressed to get more than a paragraph or two out of it.

 

I need to have a working (rough draft) thesis and 30 sources by sunday night at midnight (it's a 1/2 online class that i have to post my stuff to). Gotta figure it out, I'm leaning to the halloween idea.