ENC 1102, Freshman Composition II Pitching Topics for the Research Essay I have so many good ideas...

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ENC 1102, ENC 1102, Freshman Composition IIFreshman Composition II

Pitching Topics for the Pitching Topics for the Research EssayResearch Essay

I have so many good ideas that I

don’t know where to begin!

I have so many good ideas that I

don’t know where to begin!

Pitch Pitch appropriateappropriate topics for your topics for your research essay.research essay.Pitch Pitch appropriateappropriate topics for your topics for your research essay.research essay.

The topics you pitch should interest The topics you pitch should interest youyou. Your . Your enthusiasm will enthusiasm will infectinfect the reader; your lack of the reader; your lack of interest, on the other hand, will interest, on the other hand, will borebore the reader. the reader. Boring papers are harder to write Boring papers are harder to write andand get low get low grades.grades.Your topic should be Your topic should be narrow enoughnarrow enough to cover in to cover in 2,000 words.2,000 words.Your topic should have Your topic should have plenty of sources plenty of sources of of information.information.Your topic should be Your topic should be academicacademic..Your topic should avoid Your topic should avoid overusedoverused, , unimaginativeunimaginative subjects — unless you are able subjects — unless you are able to present them in to present them in newnew and and freshfresh ways.ways.

These are your goals:These are your goals:These are your goals:These are your goals:

Something most people do not know Something most people do not know enough about to appreciateenough about to appreciate

Something people should be more Something people should be more concerned aboutconcerned about

Something people should preserve Something people should preserve before it is too latebefore it is too late

Read these example topics, Read these example topics, which vary in success:which vary in success:Read these example topics, Read these example topics, which vary in success:which vary in success:

An An FF topic: topic: Diabetes DiabetesA A DD topic: topic: Types of diabetes Types of diabetesA A CC topic: topic: Treatments for type 2 Treatments for type 2 diabetesdiabetesA A BB topic: topic: The use of insects in The use of insects in modern medicinemodern medicineAn An AA topic: topic: Maggot therapy in the Maggot therapy in the treatment of necrotic tissue common in treatment of necrotic tissue common in diabetes patientsdiabetes patients

Test your understanding of Test your understanding of these these topic requirementstopic requirements by seeing what some by seeing what some real real studentsstudents have pitched .have pitched . .. ..

.. .. . and if you discover . and if you discover that your proposal has that your proposal has problems, make the problems, make the

necessary fixes!necessary fixes!

I was really affected by the death of a Sea

World trainer. I wonder if the treatment of the whales inspired the

attack. I want to write my research essay on

animal cruelty.

I was really affected by the death of a Sea

World trainer. I wonder if the treatment of the whales inspired the

attack. I want to write my research essay on

animal cruelty.

Is this a Is this a good topicgood topic for a research essay?for a research essay?Is this a Is this a good topicgood topic for a research essay?for a research essay?

Yes!Yes! This student should run to This student should run to the library to do some research!the library to do some research!

No!No! This student has not been This student has not been paying attention.paying attention.

What is the What is the biggest biggest problem?problem?What is the What is the biggest biggest problem?problem?

The topic is The topic is not interestingnot interesting to the to the student.student.

The topic is The topic is too broadtoo broad.. The student will have trouble The student will have trouble finding finding

enough good sourcesenough good sources.. The topic is The topic is not academicnot academic.. The topic is The topic is overusedoverused and and without without

imaginationimagination..

The solution:The solution: Narrow the subject to a Narrow the subject to a topic that can be adequately explored topic that can be adequately explored in 2,000 words.in 2,000 words.

Keeping Killer Whales in CaptivityKeeping Killer Whales in CaptivityKeeping Killer Whales in CaptivityKeeping Killer Whales in Captivity

The training The training that both the that both the trainers and trainers and killer whales killer whales receivereceive

The The behavioral behavioral problems of problems of killer whales killer whales in captivityin captivity

The zoo The zoo philosophy for philosophy for keeping keeping animals like animals like killer whales killer whales in captivityin captivity

I have really strong feelings about the death penalty. So I

want to write my research essay on

capital punishment.

I have really strong feelings about the death penalty. So I

want to write my research essay on

capital punishment.

The solution:The solution: Choose overused topics Choose overused topics only only ifif you plan to say something that we don’t you plan to say something that we don’t hear repeated on the news every other hear repeated on the news every other night.night.

Capital PunishmentCapital PunishmentCapital PunishmentCapital Punishment

The reasons The reasons some state some state governors have governors have instituted a instituted a moratorium on moratorium on executionsexecutions

The lives The lives innocent death-innocent death-row inmates row inmates have lived have lived afterafter their release their release from prisonfrom prison

The attitudes The attitudes other other developed developed countries have countries have towards human towards human executionsexecutions

These topics are These topics are overusedoverused and and should be should be avoidedavoided unless you can unless you can present them in an present them in an excitingexciting and and freshfresh way: way:

AbortionAbortion

Dangers of smokingDangers of smoking

Family valuesFamily values

Gun controlGun control

Global warmingGlobal warming

Legalizing marijuanaLegalizing marijuana

Ozone layerOzone layer

Skin cancerSkin cancer

SuicideSuicide

Teen pregnancyTeen pregnancy

Violence on televisionViolence on television

Violence in video Violence in video gamesgames

War on drugsWar on drugs

If you think a topic is overused, it If you think a topic is overused, it probably is! You can confirm it by probably is! You can confirm it by emailing your professor from Atlas..

Hmmm. I better ask about this one before I

propose it as a topic!

Hmmm. I better ask about this one before I

propose it as a topic!

Our first son was born three months

premature, so I witnessed first-hand

the amazing medical advances that allow preemies to survive. I

want to write my research essay on the

medicine and technology that help

these babies overcome the

complications of their early births.

Our first son was born three months

premature, so I witnessed first-hand

the amazing medical advances that allow preemies to survive. I

want to write my research essay on the

medicine and technology that help

these babies overcome the

complications of their early births.

What makes this topic What makes this topic suitable?suitable?What makes this topic What makes this topic suitable?suitable?

The topic is The topic is interestinginteresting to the student. to the student. The topic is The topic is narrow enoughnarrow enough.. The student will be able to find The student will be able to find enough enough

good sourcesgood sources.. The topic is The topic is academicacademic.. The final essay will give its reader The final essay will give its reader new new

informationinformation and and perspectiveperspective..

I’m a vegetarian animal lover. I want to write my research essay on the

negative karmic energy trapped in meat as a result of the barbaric practices

at slaughterhouses.

I’m a vegetarian animal lover. I want to write my research essay on the

negative karmic energy trapped in meat as a result of the barbaric practices

at slaughterhouses.

If your topic isn’t If your topic isn’t taughttaught in a in a college college

coursecourse, then it is , then it is notnot academic!academic!

The solution:The solution: Write about personal Write about personal beliefs in an academic fashion.beliefs in an academic fashion.The solution:The solution: Write about personal Write about personal beliefs in an academic fashion.beliefs in an academic fashion.

Treatment of Animals Used for FoodTreatment of Animals Used for FoodTreatment of Animals Used for FoodTreatment of Animals Used for Food

The changes The changes mainstream mainstream markets have markets have made as made as “organic” “organic” products gain products gain popularitypopularity

The more The more humane humane ways ways “organic” “organic” farmers treat farmers treat their their livestocklivestock

The health The health consequences consequences of eating meat of eating meat from animals from animals treated with treated with hormones and hormones and antibioticsantibiotics

I love biochemistry, so I want to write my research essay on

the nutritional deficiencies of

Rwandans in Africa, explaining the necessity of the native people

poaching wildlife in protected

parkland to meet RDAs of vitamins

and minerals.

I love biochemistry, so I want to write my research essay on

the nutritional deficiencies of

Rwandans in Africa, explaining the necessity of the native people

poaching wildlife in protected

parkland to meet RDAs of vitamins

and minerals.

The solution:The solution: Don’t pick a Don’t pick a topic that requires a $4 topic that requires a $4

million grant from the World million grant from the World Health Organization, a staff of Health Organization, a staff of fifteen, and a two-year stint fifteen, and a two-year stint

in Africa to do original in Africa to do original research!research!

I work as a firefighter for Osceola County,

and every week I see people injured —

sometimes dead —

because they didn’t buckle up. I want to write my research

essay on the under appreciated value of that simple nylon belt that folks foolishly

neglect to strap across their laps.

I work as a firefighter for Osceola County,

and every week I see people injured —

sometimes dead —

because they didn’t buckle up. I want to write my research

essay on the under appreciated value of that simple nylon belt that folks foolishly

neglect to strap across their laps.

I hate English classes! I can never think of

anything to write! Oh, well, I’ll do my research essay on the reasons why English teachers

are often depressed.

I hate English classes! I can never think of

anything to write! Oh, well, I’ll do my research essay on the reasons why English teachers

are often depressed.

The Solution:The Solution: Do Do notnot write what write what you you thinkthink your professor wants to your professor wants to hear. Pick an academic topic out hear. Pick an academic topic out

of the options offered in the of the options offered in the course that really interests course that really interests you you ..

My mother had breast implant surgery 15

years ago. Before the operation, her doctors didn’t warn her of the long-range health problems that she

could suffer. Now she is in tremendous

pain from a number of complications. I want

to write my research essay on the dangers

of breast implants.

My mother had breast implant surgery 15

years ago. Before the operation, her doctors didn’t warn her of the long-range health problems that she

could suffer. Now she is in tremendous

pain from a number of complications. I want

to write my research essay on the dangers

of breast implants.

After taking a history course, I’ve developed a real interest in ancient Egypt. I’ve been reading on the Internet that no one knows for sure how the pyramids were built, and I want to prove that extraterrestrials used

their space ships to help the pharaohs create these

architectural wonders!

After taking a history course, I’ve developed a real interest in ancient Egypt. I’ve been reading on the Internet that no one knows for sure how the pyramids were built, and I want to prove that extraterrestrials used

their space ships to help the pharaohs create these

architectural wonders!

The solution:The solution: Write about historical Write about historical events in an academic fashion.events in an academic fashion.The solution:The solution: Write about historical Write about historical events in an academic fashion.events in an academic fashion.

The Pyramids of Ancient EgyptThe Pyramids of Ancient EgyptThe Pyramids of Ancient EgyptThe Pyramids of Ancient Egypt

New theories New theories modern modern archeology archeology has provided has provided about the about the pyramids’ pyramids’ constructionconstruction

The The innovations innovations that ancient that ancient architects used architects used to build bigger to build bigger and better and better pyramidspyramids

The ways that The ways that Egyptian and Egyptian and South South American American pyramids pyramids compare and compare and contrastcontrast

My mother struggled with depression during her long illness. At the very end, it was hard to talk to her about anything. I would like to talk about the effects of depression on the family members of the affected person. I could use

“The Yellow Wallpaper.”

My mother struggled with depression during her long illness. At the very end, it was hard to talk to her about anything. I would like to talk about the effects of depression on the family members of the affected person. I could use

“The Yellow Wallpaper.”

Now you are ready Now you are ready to to write your ownwrite your own !!

The END.The END.

ENC 1102, Freshman Composition II Pitching Topics for the Research Essay I have so many good ideas...

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