Research Tools > How to Choose a Topic
Would you like to download a worksheet [pdf, 8KB] to help you pick your topic? (Requires Acrobat™ Reader)
So, you have to write a report, but you don't have a topic yet. Don't worry, it's easy to pick an interesting topic. You just have to do two things:
- Consider the assignment
- Find a topic that fits
Consider the Assignment
When teachers assign reports, they often say something like:
"Write a report on _________"
What goes in the blank? Sometimes it's just a general subject area, such as science or history. Other times it's a general topic, such as a river animal or a president. And sometimes it's a specific topic, such as beavers or George Washington.
Think about your assignment. Is it general, specific or somewhere in between? Use the picture below to help you decide.
Where does your assignment fit? Click on the part of the arrow that matches your assignment.
Find a Topic That Fits
Your goal is to pick a specific topic for your report. One like the words on the right end in the picture above. Here's a way to do this. Once you figure out which color matches your assignment, move step-by-step through each color until you reach the End!
Step One: Choose Your Subject Area
Once you know the subject area for your report, think of a subject that fits. For example, say your teacher tells you to write a science report. Think of a subject in science that interests you. Let's say you like ecology. Great! Choose ecology as your subject.
Step Two: Choose Your Subject
Once you know the subject, pick a topic area in that subject. For example, let's say you've decided to write a report about ecology. Think of a topic area in ecology that appeals to you. Maybe you are interested in endangered species. You can use endangered species as your topic area.
Step Three: Choose Your Topic Area
Once you know the topic area of your report, pick a specific topic that fits. For example, let's say you've decided to write a report about endangered species. Choose a specific topic in endangered species that interests you. You might pick jaguars, the California condor, or wildlife habitat improvement.
Step Four: Research Your Specific Topic
Congratulations! Now you have a topic for your report. But, before you decide for sure that you want to write about this topic, you might want to do a little research on it. Look for materials about your topic. Read some of the materials you find. Make sure the topic is interesting to you. If it isn't, you might want to start over and pick a different topic.
Hint: if you're having trouble finding materials on your topic, try one of our Research Tools.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Sometimes it's hard to pick a report topic. If you get stuck, here's a list of questions you might ask yourself to help you pick a topic. If you want to, you can print this out and take it home.