ENG 4920: Theories and Practices in the Tutoring of Writing

Select a topic:

• Think about issues you've discussed in class and topics you are passionate or knowledgeable about.
• Consider intersections with your major or area of study.
• Explore the journals Praxis: A Writing Center Journal, The Writing Center Journal, and WLN: A Journal of Writing Center Scholarship for ideas. 

Formulate a research question or argument/thesis:

Your research question should...

• Be focused 
• Identify the problem you're writing about
• Establish significance 

Once you have a basic understanding of your topic and the issues surrounding it, narrow your research question by asking the following questions. You may want to do some preliminary background research using Google, Wikipedia, reference sources, or classroom resources to answer these questions.

• Who? - Are you interested in a specific group of people? Can you narrow your focus to a group or demographic, such as age, gender, ethnicity, location, or socioeconomic status?
• What? - What are current issues around this topic? Is there anything in the news about it?
• When? - Is your topic current or historical? Did it happen during a specific time period? Are there any important events surrounding your topic? 
• Where? - Can your topic focus on a specific location? Where, geographically, might this topic be significant?
• Why? - Why is this topic important? Why should others be interested?

It's okay for your research question to change over time as you find more information about your topic, or take out ideas that don't work.

Pull out the most important aspects of your research question or thesis. Represent each important concept with a keyword.

Brainstorm a list of terms. Think about synonyms/alternate terms that describe the same concepts, specific examples that represent each concept, and/or broader related terms.

Example:

Research question: Have social media sites led to an increase in bullying among young adults? 

Main keywords: Social Media, Bullying, Young Adults

Social Media: 

• Alternate terms: social network
• More specific terms: Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok
• Broad related terms: Internet, online

Bullying: 

• Alternate terms: harassment, taunting, abuse, intimidation
• More specific terms: doxxing, cyberbullying, trolling, stalking
• Broad related terms: hate, shaming

Young Adults: 

• Alternate terms: adolescent, juvenile, teenager, emerging adult
• More specific terms: high schooler, college freshman
• Broad related terms: youth, school, college

This exercise can a) provide you with many options for keyword combinations, and b) help you focus or narrow your topic if needed.