Topics related to our environment have been trending in the past years. People all across the globe are concerned about climate change and other environmental issues that take place today. Therefore, conducting research on this topic is a great thing to do.
However, how to choose the right theme for one’s study? In this article, we are going to share some practical advice on how to pick the right topic and offer some great ideas to consider!
Once you take all the steps we are going to cover, you can start working on the outline for an essay, prioritize your sources, and start writing.
How to Pick a Perfect Research Topic?
Being a college student, you will have to write tons of academic papers. Obviously, research is an inevitable part of the studying process.
The biggest problem facing students is that most of them don’t really know how to organize their research to make the process effective.
Most young people rush into seeking relevant sources too soon and don’t pay enough attention to the choice of their research topic, and that’s the biggest mistake!
We have prepared a step-by-step guide to help you out:
Step 1: Brainstorm
First of all, you have to come up with a few ideas. Think of topics that you are genuinely interested in and on which you have a strong opinion.
At this step, you should brainstorm and write down all concepts, ideas, and terms that may be of interest to you. Then, looking at your list, think if these suggestions can help you create a more focused topic and take it from there.
Step 2: Study Background Information
When you already have a general idea of what you are going to write about, take your time and do some basic research to study available background information.
This step will help you to grasp the general idea of your concept and narrow it down to something more specific.
Step 3: Make It More Focused
One of the main rules to keep in mind when choosing a topic is that it shouldn’t be too broad or, on the contrary, too narrow. It has to be specific enough in order for you to be able to disclose all aspects thoroughly.
Speaking of environmental studies, narrowing down your idea shouldn’t be too hard. Many students use a simple trick and focus their research in one of the following ways:
- By time frame
- By geographical area
- By population group
- By discipline
Here is a clear example: let’s say you are going to write a paper on climate change. This topic is engaging, but it is way too broad to cover in a single document. In this case, you can narrow it down to:
- How did climate change in the past decade? – Narrowed by time frame;
- How did climate change affect Europe? – Narrowed by geographical area;
- How does climate change affect the new generation of children? – Narrowed by population group;
- What effect does climate change have on modern businesses? – Narrowed by discipline.
Step 4: Define Your Research Question
The easiest way to determine the topic is to shape a focused research question.
In later stages, this question will help you in researching and writing the paper.
Step 5: Find More Sources of Information
Once you have narrowed down your idea to a specific question, it is just the right time to do some more research and gather more information related to your theme.
You need to take this step before creating a thesis statement and approving the final topic.
Step 6: Develop a Thesis Statement
Finally, when you have enough information and a general idea of what you are going to write about, formulate your thesis statement.
The critical thing to remember during this step is that you should possess enough information and evidence to support your statement.
Our final tip for students is to be flexible with the topic you decide on. As a rule, it will require some modifications as you will be diving deeper into your research. Thus, be ready to adjust it later on.
Topics on Environment: Best Ideas for Students in 2020
This topic is so broad that it gives us so many ways to go while studying it. Thus, students have a wide range of options, and here are some of the best ideas for environmental research in 2020:
- Global warming: possible hazards of melting glaciers
- What impacts may cause the destruction of the world’s coral reefs have on our environment?
- LED lights: can their use make a difference?
- How can transition to greener vehicles make a change?
- Recycling as an effective way to save our planet
- Tectonic movements and their effect on the environment
- Water management: how do different areas handle it?
- Possible ways of fighting oil pollution
- Nuclear and hazardous waste: what can we do to minimize it?
- PET bottles: how using them can be harmful to people?
- Soil conservation: benefits and best practices
- Europe’s 2019 record-breaking heatwave: leading causes of dramatic climate changes in different regions
- Acid rains: are they the result of industrial activities?
- The importance of sustainable production and consumption for our environment
- Fukushima and Chernobyl as critical environmental disasters: what impact did they have on the ecology of our planet?
- Tropical rainforests and their importance for the atmosphere
- The change in seasonal weather across different regions: how did local ecosystems handle them?
- Natural and artificial radioactivity: can life on our planet get used to radiation?
- Extinction of endangered species: should humanity prevent or stand aside from this process?
- Increased number of forest fires: the consequences of deforestation and possible ways of preventing a disaster
Final Words
Education and research are closely linked to each other, which is why students of all academic levels have loads of research paper assignments.
As a matter of fact, 50% of the success of your paper depends on whether you’ve chosen the right topic. Therefore, it is vital to know how to do it right.
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand how to generate ideas and pick a perfect research topic on the environment!
Article Submitted By Community Writer