Choosing a topic is a key point in this research process. You can’t start research if you don’t have at least a little bit of an idea of what you want to learn about. Your teacher may have guidelines as to what sort of topics you should choose from, based on the course you are taking.
A topic is the part of history you want to study. Choose a topic that is:
- Interesting to you
- Fits the annual theme
- Is not too big and not too small.
Here are a few questions/ideas to ponder to help with this decision:
- What’s something you pause on while scrolling through TikTok or Instagram?
- What history topics appeal to you? They can be from any time period and anywhere in the world.
- What is an issue local to your community that you want to learn more about?
- Talk to an elder or family member about their past. What events were important to them?
You might start from a variety of angles (time period, topic, or even a primary source or secondary source) then identify what interests you the most, then continue to or narrow down the topic as you develop your project and answer your research question. Thinking about how a global event impacted your local community or family is one way to narrow the topic and find sources close to home!