Academic Writing: Guide Sections
History Research Paper Topics: 5 Easy Steps to Get a Great Topic
Choosing a History research paper topic may become the first and the strongest obstacle in writing a research paper in History. Students feel embarrased when they try to take out some portion of information and turn it into a History research paper topic. Try the approach of choosing History research paper topics proposed below.There is a simple formula for choosing History research paper topics:
- Take your subject area.
- Choose a subject.
- Choose a purpose of research.
- Narrow your focus.
- Formulate the topic.
Below, all steps are considered in detail.
- Take a subject area.
It is more reasonable to say “take” than “choose” because you will be probably provided with a subject area: some wide topic you are studying or have just studied. Thus, you will hardly have to choose between Ancient Greece and the World War II when thinking on a History research paper topic.
- Choose a subject.
Single a subject out of your subject area when developing History research paper topics. For example, in your research paper on History of Roman Empire, you can focus either on emperors or on Fora etc.
- Choose a purpose of research.
When developing History research paper topics, you can choose different purposes for any subject:
- explain reasons
- analyze causes
- compare and contrast
- analyze role and importance
- disprove another researcher’s statement
- find regularities etc
For example, if you chose Roman Fora as your subject, you can either analyze the role of Fora in political life of Roman Empire or compare Forum Augustum to Forum Traiani etc.
- Narrow your focus.
Make sure you are able to cope with your History research paper topic within your paper. For example, when comparing Forum Augustum and Forum Traiani, you may focus on architecture.
- Formulate your history research paper topic.
Take a final step: construct a phrase which will be your History research paper topic. Your topic should reflect both subject and purpose, for example: “Comparing and contrasting the architecture of Forum Augustum and Forum Traiani”.