ENG 1: Fall 2019 with Adam Spellmire

Research is a messy, creative, and powerful process that ultimately leads to learning and the creation of new knowledge. 

An important part of the research process is turning your interests into topic ideas. A good topic should:

• Spark your interest and curiosity
• Inspire deep and critical thinking
• Change as you learn more

Great topic ideas take time to develop. 

Distilling topic ideas into single words and short phrases is an important step in the research process. It helps you:

• Focus and refine your thinking
• Prepare to search resources like library databases, do more targeted searching on the open web

Example topic: King Cake

• Mardi Gras/Carnival
• New Orleans (focus), other cultures (France, Quebec, Spain)
• childhood memories
• King Cake baby/fève
• ingredients: brioche, glaze, sugar, filling
• symbolism: circular shape, colors, re-birth, Lent, Easter
• religious festivals/holidays, symbolic festival/holiday foods