1. CHOOSING A RESEARCH TOPIC DR NIK ALOESNITA NIK MOHD ALWI UHL 2332 SEMESTER II, 2011/2012 ACADEMIC REPORT WRITING

2. How do you choose your research topic? Can you share with your classmates? Anyone?

3. Brainstorm for ideas

4. Read general background information

5. Focus on your topic

6. Make a list of useful keywords

7. Be flexible

8. Define your topic as a focused research question

9. Research and read more about your topic

10. Formulate a thesis statement

11. Let’s listen to some examples on the steps based on your work

12. Exercises • Identify three narrower aspects of the following broad topics, i.e. what are three areas you could investigate that fit into these very broad topics? • Sports • Education • Technology • Identify a broader topic that would cover the following narrow topics, i.e. how could you expand these topics to find more information? • Using ICT tools in learning at UMP • Water crisis at UMP Pekan • Read the following topics. Think of 5 keywords you might use to look for information on each. • Pollutions affect our health. • The barriers to peace in the Middle East. • Communication skills influence employability. • Welfare reform can help special children.