Tips for Researching Topics of Interest

Researching a New Guitar When on a Budget

You are a guitarist who wants to upgrade his instrument but has limited funds to spend; what is necessary to find out, and what options do you have?

You are a runner who has run several  races but you’re now interested in training for a full marathon—what sources would you consult to learn how to train the correct way without injury?

You are a journalism major and enjoy writing, but you are aware of the diminishing full-time job prospects at print publications—where would you turn to find out about other writing-related careers?

You have been fully vaccinated and want to find out the latest covid case counts and trends for Georgia. Where would you turn to find out more about these numbers?

I advise you to concentrate on a subject you want to know more about; perhaps you know something about it now, or you know very little. Don’t feel obligated to explore a controversial, “big-ticket” issue just because it seems important. I have a feeling that the closer to your interests you stay, the more mileage you’ll get from your writing.

Here are just a few possible (broad) topics which are close to home:

Your current (or possible) program of study in college: career paths, job prospects, starting salaries, satisfaction/happiness

A place, setting, or organization you know well: restaurant, movie theater, school, daycare, church, concerts, recitals, city council, school board, local government

Perimeter College (or another college): registration, classes, parking, navigation, cost, convenience, fees, transferability of classes

Your workplace: scheduling of hours, supervisors, overtime (mandatory or not), productivity, management, vacation time, benefits

Your community or neighborhood: safe/unsafe streets, crime, drug dealing, activities for kids, stoplights, stop signs, intersections, traffic flow, city services (garbage pickup, post office, water/power services, etc.)

Your relationships with others: parents, siblings, friends, significant others, spouses, pets, authority figures

Some aspect of your present life you would like to change: salary/wages, employment, commute/transportation, living arrangements, safety…

2 Remember, this is not a traditional research essay. It is as much about the story of your search as it is about what you discover—so in your writing, take us on your journey. Use first person. If you try out some advice or conduct an experiment, tell us about it. If you learn something different from what you expected, let us know. If you find only partial answers, let us know (but don’t let this be an excuse for not searching).