Thesis Notes

One of the most difficult tasks in Technical Writing subject is finding a topic for your research paper.  At first, you are excited for your research because you choose a topic that is popular but after a few days, you will change another topic because although this topic is popular, you can’t find enough information and data for your research. It is totally a wasted of time and effort so make sure that your topic is interest you.

Always remember that to select a topic; it should something that interests you personally so that you can project some enthusiasm and emotion in your writing.  Also, you should be knowledgeable about your topic so that you can have something worthwhile to say to your readers.

Your experiences, family, ambitions, goals and dreams are the best source of topic.  And if there are topics outside yourself that you may find interesting but which you are not confident enough to discuss, you will have to make an effort to gather information by interviewing the right people, reading books, magazines, journals and newspapers or consulting references books in the library.

1. Choose a subject that interests you but from which you can still learn much.
2. Choose a subject that is not broad.
3. Choose a subject not too difficult, one for which you can find materials from popular magazines or books aimed at general reading.
4. Choose a subject that has some interest for the average reader.

Once you have settled upon a subject, you are now ready to gather materials.  Begin by defining the specific problem with which you wish to deal. Select only materials related specifically to your problem.

The sources of materials are the following: observation or experience, interview, library and special bulletin and reports.

If your source of materials is books, you will need to take note the following: the author or editor, title of the book, place of publication, publisher, date of publication, and call number. If you use magazines as source of material, you will need to the author and title of the article, name of magazines or newspaper, volume number, date of issue, and page number.

To ensure the completion of the study and to make research work enjoyable to the researcher, certain criteria should be observed.

• Within the interest of the researcher. The research problem or topic should be within the interest of the researcher so that the researcher will focus his full attention on the research work.

• Competence of the researcher. The researcher must have a workable understanding of his study such as the method of research to be used to the problem to his problem.

• Specialization of the researcher. Research problem or topic should be within the specialization of the researcher to make research work easier for him.  This will also improve his specialization skills, and competence of his profession.

• Research budget. The researcher should be able to finance or find funding for his research until his study is completed.

• Personal choice of the researcher problem or topic. This is to prevent from blaming others or offering excuses for any problem encountered.

• Researchable and manageable research problem or topic. All the data used should be accessible as well as equipment and instruments for research are available and can give valid and reliable results. Also, the hypothesis formulated are testable and the research problem or topic should be able to meet the standards of accuracy, objectivity and verifiability.

• Within period of time. Research topic should be completed within a reasonable period of time.  There must be a project time table.

• Relevant to the present time. Research topic should be significant, important and relevant to the present time and situation, and of current interest. In addition, it should be able to arouse people’s interest.

• Add human knowledge. Research topic must contribute a new bit of knowledge to what we already have since all the facts and knowledge are the products of research.

• Solve problems. Prove the way for the solution of the problems or problems intended to be solved.  After research or project have been conducted, recommendations are made for the solution and if implemented can solve the problems.

• Moral and spiritual values. Research topic must promote divine values and admirable human values including love, peace, goodwill, etc.

• Quality of human life. Research topic must improve the quality of human life or show how to improve unsatisfactory conditions.