Your initial research question (or topic) must be science-based and somehow connected to Darwin’s theory of evolution. Some example questions are:
1. Make a List
List topics that you find interesting and gather key words and concepts to help you flesh out your idea. Look for synonyms, alternate terms, and key events or people
| CELL PHONES | FOOD SAFETY |
|---|---|
| social life | modern food systems |
| safety regulation | tainted spinach incident |
| smart phone technology | food born illnesses |
| driving while texting | local food vs. imports |
2. Draw a Concept Map
Sketch out a concept map by hand or using a web app (bubbl.us, text2mindmap.com) to explore the relationships between ideas.
3. Write It Out
Write out an explanation of your topic in a sentence. Try to justify it on multiple levels:
I am studying... (state what your broad topic is)
cell phones
in order to find out... (use standard journalistic questions: who, what, where, when, but focus on why and how)
how constant use causes ongoing distracted behavior
in order to help my reader understand... (motivate your question, why does your reader need to know this)
why constant use may cause health and safety risks
Great places to look for topic ideas:
