First you need to identify general topic and begin library work. Brainstorm topics in the readings that spark your interest, topics that speak to you. Then you need to select one or two authors who write about common themes and read more about there ideas(thesis). Look for some books and some dissertation database about related topics. You may also want to use newspaper and magazine articles to help stimulate and focus your interest, and you may try some google.com searches to see if there are authoritative webpages about your subject. Read several general pieces about your author to help you decide which aspect of her/his writing will be your focus.
Ask yourself some questions as you read:
- Does it relate to my own life in some way?
- Is there something in this topic I would like to prove or argue about?
- Do my readers need persuasion?
- Will this topic be actual for the readers?
Once you narrow your topic, do some database searching to make sure you can find enough material to explore and support your focus.
Draft a Preliminary Thesis
Begin by asking yourself some specific questions about your topic that you would like your research paper to answer. This does not mean that your thesis will be posed as a question, this is simply a way to arrive at an assertion that you can use as your thesis and that your research paper will prove or argue. After you have done some preliminary reading, look at these questions, you can focus your topic by writing a draft thesis statement.
Write your research paper. Don’t be afraid to discover your conclusion. Don’t be afraid to adjust your thesis statement as you figure out where you thinking is going. At the end most important is to revise your paper. Look at your research paper organization. Make sure your paragraphs are coherent, sticking to just one point. Check your intro and conclusion and make sure you have completed a circle. Good luck.