Topic Sources

The media — books, newspaper, magazine, television, public radio, Web logs ("'blogs") and talk radio - cover local, national, and international issues, events,and situations that will interest you.

If you find yourself thinking "I wonder why/what/how __________" write it down!

Take your idea and "brainstorm" with friends, classmates, or your instructor. Brainstorming is a free discussion about a topic where you don't hold anything back. Every conceivable idea or situation about the topic can be put on the table and discussed - no judgments or criticism allowed! (both inhibit creativity and innovation). Ideas that may first appear "ridiculous"' or "'silly" may turn out to be excellent research topics after discussing them.

Try these online sources for topics:

  • EBSCO's TOPICsearch (campus access only)
  • EBSCO off-campus - choose your home campus. At the library page, follow the EBSCO link and enter UH Number and last name. Scroll down the database and select TOPICsearch.
  • Hot Paper Topics (from St. Abrose University).

National Public Radio and its local affiliate, Hawaii Public Radio, often have fascinating and thought-provoking programs on all topics — many of which you can listen to as podcasts. Unlike "talk radio," which is often one-sided and biased, NPR and HPR programs present all sides of an issue.

The next page contains more topic sources.