How do I prepare topic statements and research questions?
- In one paragraph describe your topic and explain its significance.
- Drawing upon your secondary source readings, state what is known about
your topic. - What arguments have been made by others about your topic?
- What insights, perspectives, theories or methodologies did they embrace
that you found useful?
- What major historical questions will you be asking? Are they different
than what has been asked before?
- What primary sources will you use to help you answer these questions?
What kinds of information do your sources contain that will help you answer
your questions or support your thesis? BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE.
- Will you be using a comparative approach? If so, how will this enhance
our understanding of this subject?
- Do you have a preliminary argument? If so, how does your argument or
perspective complement or diverge from the arguments of other authors?
- What is new or exciting about your research/approach/argument?
