good topics for investigative essays

273 Topics for Investigative Essay, Example, & Tips

An investigative essay is a piece of writing based on the information you gather by investigating the topic. Unlike regular research or term paper, this assignment requires you to conduct interviews, study archival records, or visit relevant locations—in a word, inspect things personally.

If you’re a fan of detective stories, you know that carrying out an investigation is really exciting. Still, it takes a lot of work, and this article by our custom-writing experts will help you ace it. Here, you will find:

• 273 investigative essay topics; 
• a step-by-step guide;
• a writing sample in PDF format.
• 🔝 Top 10 Topics
• ✅ Investigation Essay Definition
• 💡 Investigative Report Topics
• 🕵️ Topics for Different Subjects

🚔 Investigation Research Topics

• ✍️ Investigative Essay Writing Guide
• 📋 Investigative Essay Example

🔍 References

🔝 top 10 investigative essay topics.

• Endogamy in the modern world
• Why does music affect our mood?
• Pros and cons of being an influencer
• Does sport positively affect society?
• The long-term effect of workplace bullying
• The effect of long distance on relationships
• How is patriotism different from nationalism?
• How do international marriages affect children?
• Possible challenges of the foster care system
• Would free higher education be less efficient?

✅ What Is an Investigative Essay?

An investigative essay is a structured report on your research project or another kind of investigation. In such a paper, you describe the subject and the aspects under study, present your observations, corresponding hypotheses, and supporting arguments, and make logical conclusions. It is usually written in a formal report-writing format.

You can compare an investigative essay to a personal one with some thorough research thrown in. This type of assignment is not just about proving your point but also about demonstrating your authority on the subject. The best way to do it is by studying the topic first-hand.

According to the description by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, such an essay usually includes the following components:

• a review of scholarly sources;
• an investigation that you’ve conducted;
• your relevant personal experience.

Now that you know what you’re dealing with, let’s move on to our list of hot investigative titles.

💡 Investigative Report Topics & Prompts

An investigative report is a type of research that deals with various accidents in the workplace, educational settings, or social context. Here are some prompts you can use when dealing with this academic assignment.

• Reporting in bioscience research . Discuss the range of issues and ethical standards in bioscience research. You can talk about the reporting principles in this area and point out the potential issues and problems that may arise due to inaccurate or incomplete reporting .
• Toxic waste disposal and public trust. This paper might explore the impact of accurate and transparent reporting about toxic waste disposal decisions on the level of public trust in local politicians. Research this area of public reporting and examine the consequences of data manipulation or concealing for the politicians’ public image.
• Workplace incident investigation . Here, you can write about the principles of workplace incident investigation and the ethics of dealing with workplace incidents confidentially. Research the fundamentals of staff interviewing and workplace action in case of proven wrongdoings.
• Procedures for reporting workplace incidents. Discuss the various workplace protocols and procedures for incident reporting that employees can use to address workplace harassment, bullying, or unsafe practices. Besides, we recommend analyzing the differences in reporting procedures in different professional settings.
• Bullying in the workplace . Explore the problem of workplace bullying and discuss the forms of bullying employees may fall victim to in different professional settings. Also, explain the principles of reporting bullying and workplace measures that can be taken to curb such accidents.
• Addressing communication problems in the workplace . This paper could discuss the issue of communicative problems and their varied expressions in the workplace. Research the implications of flawed or ineffective communication for workplace productivity . Suggest ways of dealing with this issue in different scenarios.
• Workplace conflict and their management . Define workplace conflict and propose diverse techniques for managing inter-group and intra-group conflict. Examine the negative consequences of unmanaged conflict in the workplace. It would also be great to propose practical team-building tools for conflict resolution.
• Dealing with diluted staff morale in the workplace. Explore the negative impact of low staff morale on organizational effectiveness. Here, you can discuss the role of HR managers in establishing a healthy workplace culture . Also, explain how staff morale-related incidents can be reported and resolved.

🕵️ Topics for Investigative Essay: Different Subjects

Investigative essay topics about society.

• Problems in relationships between parents and children.
• Explore the typical characteristics of online dating sites’ users.
• What factors influence young people’s choice of occupation?
• What’s the purpose of creating fake accounts on social media?
• Does the reality TV show 16 and Pregnant glamorize teen pregnancy?
• Celebrities as role models : what impact do they have on teenagers?
• Investigate the correlation between politics and law.
• Assess the religious beliefs of adolescents in the selected country
• What makes children and students start smoking?
• How do women experience discrimination in the workplace?
• What challenges do single parents face?
• Does Instagram motivate people to lead a healthy lifestyle?
• Reasons for anti-lockdown protests during the COVID-19 pandemic
• What is it like to be a child-free woman in a family-centered society?
• Investigate the reasons for women’s reluctance to report rape cases.
• Gender inequality in court cases related to child custody.
• Research the causes of Europeans’ negative attitudes toward refugees.
• What community-based services are especially helpful for the elderly?
• Societal attitudes toward women in managerial positions.
• Sports fans’ attitudes toward the incidents of rule violations by professional athletes.
• Children’s participation in the workforce in the past. Nowadays, children’s labor is seen as entirely inappropriate. However, the situation was different in the past, which may be interesting to investigate. You can use primary sources written during the times of the Industrial Revolution.
• How does the media raise society’s awareness about climate change? Media plays a major role in shaping public attitudes. An investigation essay can explore how it affects society’s views on topical issues such as climate change. Use films, news, posters, and ads as sources for this investigation.
• Gender-based stereotypes about food. You can conduct a survey exploring people’s attitudes toward specific foods. For example, meat is often perceived as food for men and salad as food preferred by women. Advertisements may also help you identify gender-based stereotypes.
• The impact of a disability acquired after marriage on marital relationships. This topic suggests interviewing married couples in which one of the spouses became disabled after marriage. It may provide insights into how an acquired disability affects the relationship.
• Interpersonal conflicts in adolescence. To investigate this topic, you may interview several adolescents. Ask them about who they often have conflicts with. What are the reasons for their disagreements? How can they find a way out of the situation?
• Shopping habits and their relation to culture and values. Start by observing and interviewing customers in a shop of your choice. Do they share similar shopping habits? Are they thinking about the environment when making purchases? Find out if their shopping behavior reflects their values.
• Juvenile crime prevention from social workers’ perspective. Ask several social workers about the major factors related to juvenile crime. They may also share their opinions about how society can handle this issue.
• Behavioral patterns in online communication. Here, you can explore how people communicate on social media. Additionally, observe your own online behavior and note down any peculiarities. Then, compare and contrast the observation results to the patterns of face-to-face communication.
• How memes emerge and vanish. Internet memes are viral content that is often created in response to social and political events. It may be interesting to investigate the memes that were popular at some point in time. What caused their emergence and popularity? Why did they disappear?
• Boundaries of subordination: what you can and cannot say to your boss. The relationship of subordination influences people’s behavior. It also sets specific limits on what is acceptable. A conversation with a director can help reveal what topics can be safely discussed with superiors. You can also conduct a similar interview with employees.

Feel free to check out our topics on psychology and sociology essay ideas to learn more about these exciting fields of study.

Topics for Investigative Essay in Healthcare

• Palliative care specialists’ attitudes toward euthanasia.
• Do physicians support pharmaceutical advertising to the general public?
• The role of HR management in medical organizations
• What are the dietitians’ opinions about vegetarian diets ?
• Experiences of nurses providing care to patients with COVID-19
• Investigate the challenges faced by parents who raise a child with a food allergy.
• Evaluate schoolchildren’s knowledge and practices of hand hygiene.
• Observe the patterns of smartphone addiction .
• Research ways of teaching people to provide first aid to someone having a seizure.
• How do healthcare professionals provide care to deaf people ?
• Did the COVID-19 lockdown encourage the use of telehealth?
• Nurses’ attitudes toward the use of electronic health records.
• The role of pediatricians in the early detection of autism.
• What challenges to maintaining a healthy diet do patients with diabetes have?
• How should parents talk with their children about alcohol use?
• Experiences of people caring for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease.
• How do people’s lives change after cancer treatment?
• Do body-positive Instagram accounts promote obesity?
• How can technology help in tracking medications?
• What do pediatricians do when parents disagree on the child’s treatment?
• Pros and cons of cosmetic surgery from a surgeon’s perspective. Modern beauty standards compel some people, especially women, to undergo cosmetic surgery. Is it indeed worth it? An interview with a plastic surgeon can uncover the issues related to such operations.
• Why do people resort to alternative medicine? Many alternative therapies are not scientifically proven to be beneficial. Yet, some people choose alternative or herbal medicine over conventional treatment. What are good effects of them? Conduct a survey to gain some valuable insights into this issue.
• School nurses’ role in preventing childhood obesity. Nurses working at schools can notice students’ obesity early by measuring their BMI. An interview with a school nurse can show how these professionals help with the problem of childhood obesity.
• The relationship between physical exercise and mood. Evaluate your mood before and after exercise. You may go to the gym and ask people to participate in the experiment. Then, explain the results by findings from scholarly research.
• How do physicians use digital technology at work? To conduct this investigation, recall a visit to a physician. Did the doctor use technology for medical purposes ? Interviews may also provide valuable insights.
• Do people agree that the costs of healthcare services are fair in the US? The costs of medical services often make Americans run into debt. You can try to reveal whether people find high prices justified. You may also compare patients’ views of healthcare pricing to those of physicians.
• Differences in attitudes toward blood donation between donors and non-donors. Conduct interviews with donors to reveal their motivation to donate blood. Similarly, conversations with those who have never donated can help discover what hinders them. Are there any barriers or negative attitudes?
• How does advertising promote unhealthy eating habits? For this paper, review advertisements on TV, social media, etc. How many of them encourage harmful product consumption? Try to notice any ads promoting healthy foods. In conclusion, compare which advertisements are more prevalent.
• People’s motivation for involvement in the anti-vaccination movement. To investigate this topic, review thematic forums or social media groups. There, people may disclose their opinions about vaccination. You may also question activists for additional evidence.
• The impact of pets on the well-being of older adults. Domestic animals are believed to be beneficial for people’s mental health. Conversations with elderly pet owners are a suitable research method for this essay. It can help discover ways in which animals improve their well-being.

When it comes to medicine, you can observe hospitals’ inner workings or research existing issues. For more ideas, feel free to read our list of healthcare research ideas . An exploratory paper or an extended investigation essay on one of these topics will definitely earn you an A+.

Investigative Essay Topics in Business

• Why do some applicants lie on their CVs?
• Do companies benefit from engaging in charity?
• Reasons for switching jobs among millennials.
• Do employers value experience more than qualifications?
• How do companies ensure a healthy working environment ?
• How do HR departments measure employee retention rates?
• How did small businesses survive the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic?
• Employees’ views on working overtime.
• Why do customers agree to pay a higher price for branded things?

• How do remote employees balance work and leisure?
• Why do technology companies prefer to hire young workers?
• How did feminism influence the marketing of products for women?
• The leader’s challenges in a diverse workplace.
• Why is overqualification a problem for HR managers in small firms?
• How do companies conduct market research?
• Write about the reasons for the early retirement of employees.
• How do employers use non-disclosure agreements with employees?
• What is the value of preparing business reports for small companies?
• How do small companies ensure workforce diversity ?
• The implementation of CRM systems in the hospitality industry.
• Drivers of and barriers to outsourcing in an organization. For this essay, select a particular business organization. Explore whether it implements outsourcing and what its reasons are for this decision. What enables it to outsource? What hinders it from doing so?
• Human resource management in small companies. Visit a small local company to investigate how it manages its personnel. Possible things to explore are how the company hires and retains its staff. What challenges pertain to HR management in small companies?
• What are the effects of nepotism in family firms? Nepotism is a tendency to hire family members rather than strangers. Generally, it is viewed as a negative phenomenon. Still, it’s a common practice in family businesses. For this essay, interview workers of a family company to investigate the influence of nepotism in the workplace.
• The presence of misleading advertisements on the Internet. Ads on the Internet are often placed as banners or embedded in videos. You can review some online ads to find out if they present false information. Why is it an important ethical issue?
• Gender discrimination in the workplace. Women often report being discriminated against at work. Conduct interviews with female employees to determine whether they have experienced workplace discrimination. If yes, how did it affect their careers?
• Do small companies practice corporate social responsibility? CSR is usually seen as an attribute of large international corporations. However, small businesses can also integrate CSR practices. Choose one or several small companies and investigate whether they take care of their communities.
• How do companies use social media for employer branding? Select a company that uses social media for online recruitment advertising. How does it shape its brand image through social media posts? If possible, contact the company’s HR manager to ask about the effectiveness of this practice.
• Company rituals and their influence on employees’ engagement. Choose a company and investigate what workplace rituals are practiced there. You can observe it yourself or ask an HR manager. Conversation with an employee can reveal their attitudes toward this practice. In particular, you can assess whether it increases workers’ engagement.
• Reasons for unethical behaviors in the workplace. Interview employees that were involved in corrupt work practices. It may be a salesperson putting pressure on customers or an office employee doing unrelated work during working hours. Find out why they engaged in such behaviors. Were there any negative consequences?
• How do firms increase the retention of night shift employees? Working at night can be challenging for the staff. For some workers, night shifts may become a reason to quit the job. You can consult HR managers of companies working round the clock. How do they motivate employees to perform their duties at night?

Are you interested in business management issues? Go to a nearby shop and investigate how its owners manage to run a successful business when there are so many popular supermarkets around. Or, check out our list of business topics if you need our help on picking an essay idea.

Topics for Investigative Essay in Education

• What makes high school students want to pursue higher education?
• Parental involvement in children’s secondary school education.
• Do students understand the value of their e-portfolios?
• How do teachers educate students with autism?
• Assessment of media literacy in high school students.
• Mobile devices in higher education: a distraction or a learning opportunity?
• Reasons for high dropout rates in online courses.
• Research parents’ experiences during COVID-19 school closures.
• Investigate the benefits of career counseling for graduates.
• How do parents create financial plans for their child’s college education?
• The main challenges faced by international students in higher education.
• How do schools prevent the use of weapons by students?
• Are metal detectors effective in ensuring school safety?
• The use of technology for communication between parents and school personnel.
• Research challenges in teaching mathematical concepts .
• Evaluate the use of guided reading in elementary school.
• What strategies do teachers use to manage classroom behavior ?
• How can you distinguish between diploma mills and legitimate institutions?
• How do schools furnish classrooms for children with special needs ?
• Find out about teachers’ motivation to work in rural schools.

• How do teachers educate students with hearing loss and deafness? Observe the teaching process in a school for children with impaired hearing. Interviews with teachers will help you identify effective education strategies. You can also focus this investigation on existing challenges.
• Difficulties in teaching online courses in higher education. E-learning poses unique challenges to teachers. They can provide their perspectives on online classes. You may also ask them to share their strategies for overcoming problems.
• Inclusive education from the parents’ perspective. Schools in which children with intellectual disabilities study together with healthy children are considered beneficial. It may be helpful to learn whether parents of children with and without intellectual disabilities support this type of education.
• Teachers’ use of educational games in the classroom. Interview teachers about their use of games during classes. You can also attend a lesson that includes educational games. How do students respond to such learning activities?
• Do teachers prefer open educational resources over costly textbooks? Students are likely to favor downloadable books over physical ones. Do instructors share their attitudes toward course materials? Interviews with several teachers may help find it out.
• Implications of lifelong learning in a particular profession. For this investigation, choose a specific occupation, such as nursing or teaching. With the help of interviews, find out whether professionals in the selected field follow the principle of lifelong learning. Evaluate if this concept applies to their occupation.
• The value of internships for college students . Talk to people about their student internships about the benefits they gained from this experience. Try focusing on the duties they performed and the feedback they received.
• What do students learn by participating in school-community partnerships? Some schools collaborate with community services. It provides learning benefits for students and helps communities. Conduct interviews with students who took part in such programs. How did it improve their learning experience?
• How do schools cope with bullying among students? Review the school policies related to bullying behaviors. Interview the school administration to learn how they’re addressing this issue. It’s also possible to ask students about how they are protected from this problem.
• Teachers’ attitudes toward the use of standardized testing . Standardized tests are meant to provide a neutral evaluation of students’ achievements. However, many people see faults in this system. Interview several teachers about their opinion on standardized testing. Is it an appropriate scientific method of measuring knowledge?

There are plenty of issues to explore when it comes to education. You can choose a topic related to the teaching process as well as to students’ experience. You may also get additional ideas from our education topics list .

Investigation Essay Topics: Science and Technology

• How do healthcare providers use telehealth to care for older patients?
• Investigate the difference between manual and automated contact tracing.
• Explore the use of recycling in drinking water production.
• How do police officers use facial recognition technology?
• What’s the impact of air pollution on food production?
• How is video calling used in prisons?
• What are the applications of virtual reality technologies in education?
• Review the peculiarities of accident investigation .
• How do astronomers detect approaching comets ?
• Write about landslides and their correlation with geography.
• How do parents ensure their children’s cybersecurity?
• What challenges do companies face when transitioning to alternative energy sources?
• Explore what the authorities do to take down dark web marketplaces.
• Investigate the security and privacy risks of smart toys.
• How do forensic scientists use various techniques to solve crimes?
• Challenges faced by small-scale farmers in the adoption of organic farming

• What materials are used in 3D printing in healthcare?
• The use of GIS technologies by fleet operators
• What cyborg products are already available on the market?
• How do small companies deal with cyber threats?
• Why do consumers oppose genetically modified food? Conduct an Internet survey to determine people’s attitudes toward GMOs. In addition, you can assess individuals’ knowledge about such products. It will help to identify whether people’s misunderstanding of GM food is linked to their negative attitudes.
• How do hospitals use health IT? Visit a local hospital and investigate its use of healthcare informatics. Find out how the implementation of such projects influenced service quality. Did the technology improve patient safety or reduce the cost of care?
• How does structural biology help develop vaccines? For this essay, visit a laboratory. Observe how structural biology is applied in vaccine research. What makes this approach effective?
• Can AI be effective in detecting fake news? Several AI-based tools have been developed to combat misinformation. Choose one of them and investigate whether it can identify fake news and help journalists combat it. It’s also possible to compare the effectiveness of several existing tools.
• Do healthcare professionals support the use of mobile apps for weight management? Study a mobile app designed to help people lose excess weight. Then show it to a medical professional dealing with overweight patients. What’s their expert opinion about the app’s usefulness?
• Do users notice the filter bubble in their Facebook newsfeeds? The filter bubble refers to personalized content recommended to users based on their search history. Explore whether people on Facebook notice it when scrolling their newsfeeds. Do their experiences vary depending on how often they use social media?
• How has technology changed children’s leisure time activities? Observe how children spend their free time during a break or in a playground. Note how many everyday leisure activities are linked to technology.
• Do people’s social media profiles influence hiring decisions? Social media have become an essential part of people’s lives. Make inquiry whether HR managers review candidates’ social media profiles to make a hiring decision.
• What is ethical hacking, and what benefits can it bring? Hacking is not always destructive and results in losses or complaints. For example, Kevin Mitnick, a famous American hacker, helps large firms to protect themselves from security breaches. For this investigative essay, interview a professional who uses hacking for a good purpose. Find out what benefits it brings to people and organizations.
• How did the issue of “Truth Decay” manifest itself during COVID-19? “Truth Decay” refers to a decreasing significance of facts and a blurring difference between facts and opinions. To investigate this issue, conduct a questionnaire to learn how people searched for information about COVID-19 and how they checked data reliability.

There are so many things you can write an investigation essay on. For example, look into natural processes or workings of some intricate device. With our list of topics in science and technology , the possibilities are endless.

Investigative Essay Topics on Arts and Culture

• What’s your position on advertisements as an art form?
• How did feminism influence art?
• What is the philosophy of Gaga dance created by Ohad Naharin?
• Analyze the use of rap lyrics as evidence in criminal cases.
• How is music used in therapy?
• Investigate the negative consequences of color-blind casting in theater productions.
• Explore the differences between traditional and computer-generated music.
• How is art used as a form of protest?
• Do modern tattoos convey any messages?
• Investigate child-rearing practices in a selected culture
• Select and analyze movies and songs that promote women’s equality.
• What does the anti-consumerism movement do?
• Explore the experience of culture shock in international students.
• Changes in the representation of superheroes in the 21 st century .
• Investigate the characteristics of urban legends.
• How does Hollywood contribute to the public’s perception of Arabs?
• What are the distinctive features of Black English?
• Explore the design and purpose of unisex clothing.
• How do video games reflect culture?
• How does ethnic clothing affect fashion trends?
• Do theaters still find their audience in the modern world? For this investigation, visit a theater and evaluate its audience. Notice the number of spectators and their demographics. You may also interview the viewers to discover their motivation to visit theatres.
• Celebrations and holidays in one’s community. For this topic, you may choose a holiday and observe how your community celebrates it. Explore whether people wear something special during the celebration or cook specific meals for the occasion. Try to discover the meaning of the holiday and its significance to the community.
• An investigation of contemporary ethnic music. Find some contemporary performers of traditional music. Pay attention to its distinctive features. What instruments do they use? What are the common motifs in the tunes and lyrics? Analyze how it differs from the ethnic music of the past.
• The evolution of street art and graffiti. Graffiti started appearing on the streets of American cities around the 1970s. Since then, it evolved from primitive sketches to an acknowledged art form. Trace this evolution of graffiti and urban art created at different times.
• Should photography be censored ? Take a stance on this controversial issue. Prove your point by finding suitable photographic images. For example, search for powerful and influential photographs that could not be available to the public if censored. You might need to use qualitative research.
• The culture of toxic masculinity and its media representation. Review media, such as TV shows, journalism, advertisements, cartoons, and movies. Find examples of how the idea of toxic masculinity is represented. Analyze whether this culture is harmful to society and, if so, what its adverse effects are.
• Why are many young adults attracted to anime ? A person unfamiliar with anime can think it’s just another kind of children’s cartoons. In fact, a large portion of its audience is adults. To investigate why young adults are interested in it, visit an anime festival. There you can interview many fans about their preferences in animation.
• What will the lyrics of modern songs tell future generations about contemporary culture? Art is a valuable source of information about past generations. One day, contemporary music will become history, and perhaps our descendants will study it. Explore the lyrics of popular modern songs. What information about our culture can they pass on to the next generation?
• The use of cultural trends in coolhunting. Coolhunting is a modern marketing trick. Marketers research popular cultural trends and use them to attract young customers. For this essay, visit a large retailer’s website and notice how it uses coolhunting.
• A semiotic analysis of packaging. Semiotics refers to signs and symbols used in a particular culture. Visit a retail store and explore the packaging of products on the shelves. Notice the use of cultural signs and try to uncover their meaning. For example, white may symbolize purity and safety, while transparent bottles may imply the brand’s trustworthiness.

Historical Investigation Essay Topics

• How did America end slavery?
• Causes of the civil war in the US.
• Investigate the causes of the Great Depression.
• Analyze the historical significance of the battle of Gettysburg.
• How was it possible for Hitler to gain power in Germany?
• Why did the Ottoman empire fall in 1918?
• The Spanish-American war and its implications for the US.
• Research how the French revolution influenced the support of human rights.
• Investigate the reasons and consequences of general Howe’s failure.
• Navy development in Ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
• Analyze the Amarna period of Ancient Egyptian history.
• World War I and its impact on the life of Europe.
• The Meiji restoration and its influence on Japan development.
• Modern history: investigate the issues of civil rights in the early 1960s.
• Discuss the role of women in the Civil Rights Movement.
• Explain the outcomes of the French and Indian war.
• The Irish immigrants’ influence on New York.
• Discussion of authority in feudal Japan.
• Examine the consequences of the fall of the Roman Empire.
• Investigate the aspects of admiral Zheng He’s voyages.
• Why did the Cold War start?
• The assassination of Julius Caesar.
• Analyze the reasons for conflict between the North and South of the United States.
• Europeans vs. Native Americans: why was the conflict inevitable?
• French revolution’s effects on European peasantry.
• Discuss the significance of progressivism for American social construction.
• Cold war in everyday life of Americans.
• Importance of polis in Ancient Greek.
• Investigate the reasons for the Cuban missile crisis.
• Examine the causes of destructive consequences of the Great Fire of London.

Check out our history topic list to gain more ideas for your investigation.

Criminal Investigation Essay Topics

• DNA in criminal investigations.
• The investigation of an arson attack .
• Analyze the peculiarities of white-collar crimes investigation.
• Criminal investigations in the I-5 strangler case.
• Discuss the complications of human trafficking investigation.
• How to reduce the human trafficking of children.
• Who investigates fraud cases?
• Approaches in criminal investigation .
• The methods of acquiring information in investigations .
• The role of forensic psychology in the investigation.
• Why behavioral theories are important for investigation of juvenile delinquency.
• Examine how the neighborhood affects the crime people commit.
• Homicide investigations and forensic evidence .
• Drug trafficking: investigation on Frank Lucas.
• How are the causes of police brutality investigated in the United States?
• Analyze the role of physical science in criminal investigations.
• Criminal behavior investigation and search warrants.
• The essential role of the first responding officer in crime scene investigation .
• Undercover police investigations in drug-related crimes.
• Crime scene investigation effect in the justice system.
• Discuss the process of investigation, surveillance, and prosecution for cybercrimes.
• Describe the role of fingerprint technology and recognition systems in criminal investigations.
• How are footwear and tire track evidence collected?
• Crime scene investigation in real life and media.
• Importance of toxicology in crime investigation .
• Why is the pre-sentence investigation report important?
• Organized business crime prosecution and investigation.
• Explain the essence of the Federal Rule of Evidence and its meaning for investigation and prosecution.
• Criminal investigation: offense issues.
• Analyze the role of Robert Merton’s theory in juvenile crime investigation.
• Principles of crime scene investigation .
• How has DNA evidence changed investigations?
• The input of criminal psychology to forensics.
• What criminal theories work today?
• Cross-cultural approaches to investigation.
• Diversity in the forensic workplace .
• Private vs. public prisons in the USA .
• Can gun control reform reduce violence?
• Power abuse in law enforcement .
• Workplace incident investigation procedures.
• What do forensic accountants do?
• Modern approaches to fraud investigations.
• How do detectives use DNA profiling ?
• The procedure of evidence collection .
• Do forensic procedures in the UK and the USA differ?

These are just examples of possible topics. We want to remind you that your investigation writing and presentation can focus on absolutely anything, from volcanoes in South Africa or Latin America to British law enforcement.

You are also free to use our topic generator .

✍️ How to Write an Investigative Report Essay

Let’s examine the process step by step. We’ll start with the pre-writing stage.

Step #1. Choose a topic.

Determining your area of interest will help you pinpoint a perfect topic. To begin with, ask yourself the following questions:

Step #2. Formulate a research question.

Answering this question will be the main aim of your essay. Make sure that it doesn’t have a simple and obvious answer. It should also be broad enough for you to spend 5-6 pages answering it.

Step #3. Choose a type of research.

This step depends on the subject you’ve chosen. If your topic revolves around a personal problem, consider conducting an interview. If it’s about an artwork, go see it yourself. If you choose to write about a location, make sure to visit it. You can also combine several types of research.

Step #4 Write an annotated bibliography.

Making a list of sources will save you the trouble of looking for them at the last minute. It will also help you figure out the scope of your study and see what you need to improve. Include primary sources as well as secondary.

Step #5. Draft your essay.

It’s best to write the basic outline after you’re done with the preliminary research. By that time, you will know your essay’s main idea and central insight. Make sure to check out our guide on how to write different types of outlines !

Step #6. Get down to writing.

Need to learn how to craft an excellent investigation essay? Check out the following section.

Investigative Essay Outline

To understand how to organize your paper, let’s have a look at the essay template and see how to start and what to include in each of them:

Introduction.

• First, introduce your topic in a few lines. This paragraph should spark the reader’s interest. Citing statistics and interesting facts are a good way to start. You can learn more about citing statistics on the Dalhousie University website.
• Give some background info. Then, explain why you chose to investigate your subject. This would show the readers why they should care about your research.
• Make a thesis statement out of your research question. Clarify what your investigation sought to do.

Body paragraphs.

• The essay’s body consists of your findings related to your thesis statement.
• Describe each crucial point in a separate paragraph.
• If possible, provide visualizations such as charts.

Conclusion.

• Sum up your results in the conclusion.
• Don’t forget to add why your investigation might be helpful for further research.
• Additionally, mention what you’ve learned during the writing process.

That’s it! Now you know how to write a brilliant investigative essay.

📋 Investigative Essay Example for Free

Looking for investigative essay examples? Well, you’re in luck! We are here to provide you with an example of an investigation essay in MLA style. You can download the PDF file below:

The fashion world is constantly evolving. Trends are actively changing together with the society, its values, and demands. With the creation of fashion houses and the development of the Internet, trends emerge and vanish faster than they ever did before.

We hope this article helped you to write an awesome investigative essay! If you liked it, make sure to share it with your friends or leave us a comment. Good luck! 

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• Health Topics: Medline Plus
• Research Topics and Projects: Queensland University of Technology
• Trending Topics: Society for Human Resource Management
• Truth Decay: When Uncertainty Is Weaponized: Nature
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• The New AI Innovation Equation: IBM
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• Topics in Criminal Investigation: Felician University
• Ten Interesting Criminal Justice Research Topics: Walden University
• Topics: History.com
• Historical Topics: Library of Congress
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113 Great Research Paper Topics

General Education

One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

• Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
• Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
• How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
• How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
• How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
• How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

Current Events

• What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
• How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
• How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
• Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
• What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
• What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
• How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
• How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
• How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
• What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
• What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
• What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
• Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies  (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
• Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
• Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
• Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
• Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
• Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
• How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
• Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
• What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
• How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
• What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
• Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
• Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
• Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
• How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
• Should graduate students be able to form unions?

• What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
• How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
• Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
• Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
• How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
• How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
• Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
• Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
• Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
• Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
• Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
• Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
• Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
• Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
• Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
• How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
• How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
• What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
• What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
• Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
• What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
• What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
• Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
• Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
• How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
• Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
• What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
• How does stress affect the body?
• Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
• What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
• Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
• How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
• What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
• What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
• Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
• What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
• What were the causes of the Civil War?
• How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
• Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
• What caused Hitler's rise to power?
• Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
• What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
• How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
• What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

• Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
• Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
• How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
• How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
• What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
• What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
• How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

• How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
• How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
• Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
• Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
• How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
• How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
• What are the pros and cons of fracking?
• What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
• What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
• How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
• Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
• Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
• What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
• What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
• How are black holes created?
• Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
• How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
• Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
• How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
• Has social media made people more or less connected?
• What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
• Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
• What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
• How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
• When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
• Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

What's Next?

Are you also learning about dynamic equilibrium in your science class? We break this sometimes tricky concept down so it's easy to understand in our complete guide to dynamic equilibrium .

Thinking about becoming a nurse practitioner? Nurse practitioners have one of the fastest growing careers in the country, and we have all the information you need to know about what to expect from nurse practitioner school .

Want to know the fastest and easiest ways to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius? We've got you covered! Check out our guide to the best ways to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (or vice versa).

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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114 Crime Investigation Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Crime investigation is a fascinating field that involves the study of criminal behavior, evidence collection, forensic analysis, and the pursuit of justice. If you are studying criminal justice or simply have an interest in the subject, writing an essay on crime investigation can be both enlightening and informative. To help you get started, here are 114 crime investigation essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your writing.

• The role of forensic evidence in solving crimes.
• The impact of DNA analysis on criminal investigations.
• The evolution of crime scene investigation techniques.
• The use of technology in modern crime investigation.
• The challenges faced by crime investigators in cold cases.
• The role of the profiler in criminal investigations.
• The importance of eyewitness testimony in solving crimes.
• The impact of social media on crime investigation.
• The ethics of undercover investigations.
• The psychology of serial killers and their investigation.
• The use of lie detectors in criminal investigations.
• The challenges of investigating cybercrime.
• The role of forensic anthropology in crime investigation.
• The use of surveillance in criminal investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in white-collar crime cases.
• The challenges of investigating organized crime.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining time of death.
• The use of geographic profiling in serial murder investigations.
• The impact of forensic botany in criminal investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in arson cases.
• The role of forensic odontology in identifying human remains.
• The challenges of investigating hate crimes.
• The use of forensic accounting in fraud investigations.
• The role of forensic linguistics in solving crimes.
• The impact of forensic psychology in criminal investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in drug trafficking cases.
• The challenges of investigating cold cases without physical evidence.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining cause of death.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in criminal investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving firearm-related crimes.
• The investigation techniques used in child abduction cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by juveniles.
• The use of forensic anthropology in mass disaster investigations.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining postmortem interval.
• The impact of forensic botany in environmental crime investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in human trafficking cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by the mentally ill.
• The use of forensic accounting in money laundering investigations.
• The role of forensic linguistics in identifying anonymous threats.
• The impact of forensic psychology in profiling sex offenders.
• The investigation techniques used in art forgery cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by terrorists.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining impairment in DUI cases.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in domestic violence investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving gang-related crimes.
• The investigation techniques used in missing persons cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by corrupt officials.
• The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of genocide.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining location of death.
• The impact of forensic botany in wildlife crime investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in elder abuse cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by cults.
• The use of forensic accounting in corporate fraud investigations.
• The role of forensic linguistics in identifying plagiarism.
• The impact of forensic psychology in investigating mass shootings.
• The investigation techniques used in art theft cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by hate groups.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining substance abuse history.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in stalking investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving drive-by shootings.
• The investigation techniques used in human rights abuse cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by drug cartels.
• The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of natural disasters.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining insect-related deaths.
• The impact of forensic botany in agricultural crime investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in fraud against the elderly cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by cult leaders.
• The use of forensic accounting in Ponzi scheme investigations.
• The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing ransom notes.
• The impact of forensic psychology in investigating child abuse cases.
• The investigation techniques used in historic artifact smuggling cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by human traffickers.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining drug-facilitated crimes.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in workplace violence investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in war crimes cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by cybercriminals.
• The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of plane crashes.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining insect infestation in food.
• The impact of forensic botany in illegal logging investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in online scams and frauds.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by human rights violators.
• The use of forensic accounting in uncovering money laundering networks.
• The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing hate speech.
• The impact of forensic psychology in investigating child abduction cases.
• The investigation techniques used in art smuggling cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by human smugglers.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining poisoning cases.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in domestic terrorism investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving gang-related drive-by shootings.
• The investigation techniques used in war crimes against civilians cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by identity thieves.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining insect-related diseases.
• The impact of forensic botany in environmental pollution investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in online child exploitation cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by international terrorists.
• The use of forensic accounting in uncovering corruption schemes.
• The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing online harassment.
• The impact of forensic psychology in investigating domestic violence cases.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining drug overdoses.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in mass shooting investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving gang-related homicides.
• The investigation techniques used in war crimes against prisoners cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by online hackers.
• The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of mass disasters.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining insect-related allergies.
• The impact of forensic botany in food contamination investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in online financial fraud cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by international drug cartels.
• The use of forensic accounting in uncovering corporate embezzlement.
• The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing online radicalization.

These essay topic ideas and examples cover a wide range of crime investigation areas, from traditional forensic techniques to modern technological advancements. Choose a topic that interests you the most, conduct thorough research, and present a well-structured and informative essay that showcases your knowledge and understanding of crime investigation. Remember to cite your sources properly and enjoy the process of exploring this intriguing field of study.

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101 Standout Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas

An argumentative essay is just what it sounds like: an essay where you argue. You pick a topic, take a stance, research information to support your opinion, state your claims, and voilà! You’ve got your essay.

As simple as that may sound, writing a persuasive essay can be quite difficult for even very experienced writers. It takes excellent organization and planning to clearly address your thoughts and requires stellar research skills to find valid arguments that support your claim.

But before you can state your case, you first need to come up with the topic you’re going to argue about.

How to Choose a Topic for an Argumentative Essay

When you choose a topic for an argumentative essay, it’s important to keep these tips in mind:

• Your topic must be debatable. Duh... this seems obvious, but it’s worth stating. You need a topic that has (at least) two sides. Choosing a topic such as Puerto Rico is My Favorite Place is not really debatable. However, picking a topic like Puerto Rico Should Become the 51st State to Join the United States is something arguable. Some people agree with this statement, and others do not. There are pros and cons that can be discussed. ‍
• Write about what people are talking about. Watch the news. Browse the internet. It’s more engaging to write about something that’s relevant right now. For example, if you keep hearing a lot about immigration, you might choose a topic such as America Should Close Its Borders . Or if you read a lot about standardized testing in schools, you can create a topic like Colleges Should Eliminate Standardized Testing From Their Application Process . When a topic is current and intriguing, it makes for a more interesting essay. ‍
• Reflect on your interests. It’s always better to write about something for which you have a passion. If you love video games, you could write a persuasive essay such as Video Gaming is Healthy for Teens . If you’re passionate about sports, you could cover something like College Athletes Deserve to Be Paid . Researching and writing an argumentative essay takes quite a bit of time, so you should pick a topic you’re fascinated by to make the process a little less painless.

Forming General Arguments

To test whether or not the prompt you have in mind is up to snuff for an entire essay, you can test it out by putting it in a general argument.

Pick the topic you’re thinking about and see if it works as a two-sided debate in any of the following formats:

• Is…effective? Productive? Helpful? Worth it? (i.e. Is school choice effective?)
• Is…hurtful? Harmful? Wasteful? (i.e. Is fracking harmful to the environment?)
• …should be allowed for… (i.e. Alcohol should be allowed for all people who are 18 and older. )
• …should be forbidden for… (i.e. Football should be forbidden for children under the age of ten .)

If you can make a topic from any of these, you’re ready at this point to start outlining your essay . If not, you need to find a more specific starting point.

Argumentative Essay Topic Ideas

Need some ideas to help you choose a topic? This list will get you started.

Note that these are listed as questions so you can take your own stance. For example, Should everyone have free healthcare? gives you at least two possible topics depending on your point of view: Everyone is Entitled to Free Healthcare vs. It is Not the Government’s Responsibility to Provide Healthcare for Everyone .

Laws & Policies

• Should the drinking age be lowered/raised?
• Should military participation be mandatory for all citizens?
• Should all Americans be required to speak English fluently?
• Should Americans be required to speak Spanish?
• Should teachers be armed?
• Should gun control laws be stricter?
• Should the military age be lowered/raised?
• Should there be limits to free speech?
• Should marijuana be legal?
• Should the internet be censored?
• Are gun control laws too strict?
• Should people of the same sex be allowed to marry each other?
• Should abortion be legal?
• Should laws be grounded in religion?
• Should churches be tax-free institutions?
• Should the voting age be lowered/raised?
• Should felons have the right to vote?
• Should the electoral college still exist?
• Should Puerto Rico become a state?
• Should all politicians have term limits?
• Should everyone have free healthcare?
• Should social security be privatized?
• Should the United States build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico?
• Should the minimum wage be raised?
• Should wealthier citizens pay more taxes?
• Should the use of the penny be eliminated?
• Should every citizen be required to vote?
• Is life better now than it was X years ago?
• Who is the greatest president of all time?
• Who is the most ethical/moral politician that has ever served?
• Is globalization a good thing?
• How can governments prevent World War 3?
• Is democracy the best form of government?
• Are teenagers now smarter than teenagers of past generations?
• Does revolution result in real change?
• Should the U.S. get involved with other countries’ wars?
• Should cursive writing be taught in schools?
• Should students have to wear school uniforms?
• Should all students have free college tuition?
• Should teachers be paid more?
• Should K–12 school selection be based on where you live?
• Should all students be required to study abroad?
• Should year-round schooling be mandatory?
• Should high school start times be later?
• Should everyone be required to learn a foreign language?
• Should schools have mandatory metal detectors and security guards?
• Is standardized testing fair?
• Should prayer be allowed in school?
• Should sex education be required for all students?
• Are single-sex schools more effective?
• Should students be required to take a year off before starting college?

Science & Technology

• Should we invest in space travel?
• Are nuclear weapons helping make the world safe?
• Are video games harmful?
• Do video games cause children to be violent?
• Does screen time have an effect on a child’s social behavior?
• Should animals be used to test new products?
• Has technology helped or hurt society?
• Does technology make life easier?
• Are online relationships legitimate?
• Is cloning ethical?
• How can we best fight against the obesity epidemic?
• Should smoking be illegal?
• Should energy drinks be banned?
• Are diets helpful?
• Is technology making healthcare more/less personal?
• Should schools offer healthier food choices?
• Should doctor-assisted suicide exist?
• Should unhealthy foods and beverages be taxed at a higher rate?
• Should physical education be mandatory for everyone?
• Should recycling be mandatory?
• Should every household have a trash limit?
• Should people eat vegan to help save the environment?
• Should tax money be used to save endangered species?
• Should cars be outlawed in cities?
• Should plastic straws and bags be banned worldwide?
• Should there be limits on water usage?
• Should solar and wind power be used more often than other energies?
• Should college athletes be paid?
• Should players have to stand for the National Anthem?
• Do athletes have a responsibility to be role models?
• Who is the greatest athlete of all time?
• Is football too dangerous for young athletes?
• Should sports betting be illegal?
• Does playing a sport help build character in young children?
• Should professional sports have cheerleaders?

Pop Culture & the Arts

• Should beauty contests be terminated?
• Should artwork be censored?
• Do celebrities have responsibilities to be role models?
• Is social media helpful or hurtful?
• Do television shows accurately represent current American lifestyles?
• Should music be censored?
• Should people live together before marriage?
• Should children be put in the spotlight at a young age?
• Does money lead to happiness?
• Should the death penalty be abolished?
• Is there any time when breaking the law is okay?
• Is money the root of all evil?
• Are we responsible for other people or only for ourselves?
• Do the ends justify the means of any action?
• Can people ever change who they are?

Once you have chosen a topic that is relevant, debatable, and worth discussing, you are free to begin organizing your argumentative essay. Outline your opinion, do some research, and get started!

How to Write Essay Titles and Headers

Don’t overlook the title and section headers when putting together your next writing assignment. Follow these pointers for keeping your writing organized and effective.

Need a topic for your upcoming argumentative essay? We've got 100 helpful prompts to help you get kickstarted on your next writing assignment.

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Investigative essay writing tips and topic ideas.

March 18, 2021

Well, the most important thing is to know that this assignment requires you to use research or interview to analyze and uncover facts about an issue. Unfortunately, some learners don’t have the necessary research skills to uncover facts about their chosen issues. And this makes writing investigative essays a challenge to some learners. Luckily, learners can follow the tips shared in this article to write brilliant essays. And if you encounter challenges when drafting your essay, don’t hesitate to seek assistance.

What is an Investigative Essay?

How to write an investigative report essay, the format of a good investigative essay, good investigative essay topics to consider, helpful tips and insights.

As hinted, investigative writing is about uncovering some information or facts. When writing this essay, you have to research extensively and present the facts that you gather. Educators want learners to find and build-up on the information they have collected and evaluated. Ideally, you have to collect and present strong evidence when writing this essay. This essay can resemble a research paper though it’s less formal. Thus, you can introduce personal opinions and experiences in this essay while you can’t do that with a research paper.

A personal investigative essay definition describes it as a write-up in which a student presents analyzed information collected from research. Essentially, a learner must employ analytical and logical skills when writing this essay. The purpose of writing this essay is to solve an issue or problem. In some cases, educators ask students to answer specific questions in their essays.

Completing this assignment is largely a creative writing process. Unlike other academic assignments, this essay doesn’t require the learner to sound scientific. Instead, students should be skeptical and curious when writing this essay. They should also double-check their sources.

When writing this essay, a student reports findings from their research or investigation. As such, the process of completing this assignment is crucial. Here is a guide on how to make an investigative essay.

• Choose a topic or issue to investigate : Like with most academic writing assignments, you should start with the selection of a topic. As hinted, students have many investigative essay topics to consider. For instance, you can opt to investigate a famous person or event and write an essay about it. Once you’ve done that, brainstorm for the angle to take in your investigation. Ideally, decide on the information to gather and the research design to apply.
• Define your goals : What do you want to find out about the issue or topic? To come up with the goals of your essay, reflect on personal knowledge and interests. Your essay can also focus on a theory that attempts to uncover or explain facts about an issue. Nevertheless, you should set goals that you want to achieve through your investigation.
• Methods : This essay doesn’t have a different structure from the other writing assignments. Ideally, you should start by introducing your topic and setting forth your investigation essay thesis. After that, use appropriate arguments and facts to prove your thesis. Be curious and cast doubts on every viewpoint. Analyze and interpret facts using renowned conceptions or theories. Additionally, avoid being too subjective.
• Cite your sources : You must learn how to cite facts in an essay to enhance the credibility of your investigation. Ideally, find the most appropriate sources when researching and list them down. You can cite different sources when writing this essay. For instance, you can cite credible internet publications, newspaper articles, surveys, personal interviews, videos, and personal experiences. Nevertheless, check and analyze the content of any source you want to cite in your essay.

Like most academic write-ups, this essay has three main sections. These are the introduction, body, and conclusion.

• Introduction : If you don’t know how to start an investigative essay, you can have a hard time completing this section of your write-up. The introduction should set a tone for the entire essay. It should also give the audience a hint of what you will be discussing in the rest of the essay. Also, include your thesis statement towards the end of the introduction to tell your readers the point you intend to make in the essay. Your thesis is a topic sentence that provides a direction for the entire essay. Ideally, use the introduction to ease readers into the topic and tell them what your essay is about.
• Body: This is the section where you provide facts and information to support findings from your investigation. Ideally, this part of your essay should support your thesis. It’s the most laborious and largest part of the essay. That’s because you state and support the main points of the essay with factual evidence. Every point you include in the body should support your main argument or thesis. And the evidence you include should be valid and clear. Focus on forming an organized and cohesive body that includes all the main points you found during the investigation.
• Conclusion : The conclusion should tie everything together. Show your readers that you uncovered useful information about the issue or topic. Show how your essay has proved the findings of your investigations and what that means. At this point, ensure that your readers know your stance on the issue or topic. Use the right words to show your readers that your essay is coming to an end. For instance, use words like “in conclusion”, “as you can see”, and “in retrospect” as your conclusion’s signpost. Ideally, you should let your readers know that you’re concluding your essay. You can also summarize the main points or restate your thesis statement.

The topic you choose for this assignment will determine how easy or complex it will be. Therefore, be careful when selecting a topic for your essay. Generally, students should start with a few wacky and interesting ideas. If you don’t select a topic you’re interested in or passionate about, you will have a hard time completing this assignment. Even convincing your readers that your essay is based on truth or facts will be difficult. Therefore, choose a topic you’re comfortable researching and writing about. Here are sample topics to consider when writing an investigative essay.

• How social media can cause a drastic invasion of privacy
• How television can low mental capacity
• How virtual reality can shape the future
• Can AI and computers be better teachers than humans?
• Can medical marijuana be a viable treatment?
• How daily exercise benefits the human body
• Smoking cigarettes- Investigating the pros and cons of the habit
• Effects of retirement on the mental and physical well-being of a person
• How the health of a person changes with age
• How sporting stars become celebrities
• How individual sports and team sports differ
• An investigation of sporting greatness
• The future of cryptocurrencies- Investigating the blockchain
• The evolution of online gambling
• How music can change your mood
• How the choice of music reflects the personality of an individual
• How serious is global warming?
• Can a single person make any difference in the world?
• How technology is making humans anti-social
• How social media has created celebrities

Pick any of these topics and then follow the guidelines provided here to write a winning essay. Always remember that the primary goal of this essay is to show your thorough knowledge and understanding of the topic without being biased. Therefore, take your time to extensively research the issue or topic. Also, come up with ways of interpreting and presenting your research findings in an organized way throughout the essay. Additionally, articulate all viewpoints of the topic or issue under investigation.

• Pick a topic or issue you are interested in.
• Start by asking a relevant question and then focus on finding information that will answer it.
• Don’t choose a too narrow or too broad topic or issue to investigate.
• Take notes and list your sources when investigating the issue or topic.
• If unsure about how the educator wants you to complete the assignment, look for an investigative essay example and read it first.
• Always consider what your audience would like to know about the issue or topic when investigating or researching it.
• Start by providing a background of the topic to help your readers understand the major concepts.
• Make comparisons and distinctions among or between explanations, issues, and viewpoints.
• Include good supporting evidence in your essay.
• Be vivid and clear in your writing
• End your essay with a conclusion that wraps up everything together while showing the readers that you have done what you set out to do.
• Contact a professional writer service to get help.

Whether you’re writing sociology or investigative journalism essay, don’t forget to include or cite scholarly sources. However, students can provide personal experiences to prove their extensive knowledge of the issue or topic under investigation. Including personal experiences shows that the student can relate the topic to real-life situations. Nevertheless, make sure that your essay remains unbiased. And once you’re done writing, proofread your essay to eliminate all typing, spelling, grammatical, and factual errors.

Take a break from writing.

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100 Interesting Research Paper Topics for High Schoolers

What’s covered:, how to pick the right research topic, elements of a strong research paper.

• Interesting Research Paper Topics

Composing a research paper can be a daunting task for first-time writers. In addition to making sure you’re using concise language and your thoughts are organized clearly, you need to find a topic that draws the reader in.

CollegeVine is here to help you brainstorm creative topics! Below are 100 interesting research paper topics that will help you engage with your project and keep you motivated until you’ve typed the final period. 

A research paper is similar to an academic essay but more lengthy and requires more research. This added length and depth is bittersweet: although a research paper is more work, you can create a more nuanced argument, and learn more about your topic. Research papers are a demonstration of your research ability and your ability to formulate a convincing argument. How well you’re able to engage with the sources and make original contributions will determine the strength of your paper. 

You can’t have a good research paper without a good research paper topic. “Good” is subjective, and different students will find different topics interesting. What’s important is that you find a topic that makes you want to find out more and make a convincing argument. Maybe you’ll be so interested that you’ll want to take it further and investigate some detail in even greater depth!

For example, last year over 4000 students applied for 500 spots in the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a rigorous research program founded by Harvard researchers. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project . The program actually does not require you to have a research topic in mind when you apply, but pro tip: the more specific you can be the more likely you are to get in!

Introduction

The introduction to a research paper serves two critical functions: it conveys the topic of the paper and illustrates how you will address it. A strong introduction will also pique the interest of the reader and make them excited to read more. Selecting a research paper topic that is meaningful, interesting, and fascinates you is an excellent first step toward creating an engaging paper that people will want to read.

Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is technically part of the introduction—generally the last sentence of it—but is so important that it merits a section of its own. The thesis statement is a declarative sentence that tells the reader what the paper is about. A strong thesis statement serves three purposes: present the topic of the paper, deliver a clear opinion on the topic, and summarize the points the paper will cover.

An example of a good thesis statement of diversity in the workforce is:

Diversity in the workplace is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage for businesses, as it fosters innovation, enhances creativity, improves decision-making, and enables companies to better understand and connect with a diverse customer base.

The body is the largest section of a research paper. It’s here where you support your thesis, present your facts and research, and persuade the reader.

Each paragraph in the body of a research paper should have its own idea. The idea is presented, generally in the first sentence of the paragraph, by a topic sentence. The topic sentence acts similarly to the thesis statement, only on a smaller scale, and every sentence in the paragraph with it supports the idea it conveys.

An example of a topic sentence on how diversity in the workplace fosters innovation is:

Diversity in the workplace fosters innovation by bringing together individuals with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, which stimulates creativity, encourages new ideas, and leads to the development of innovative solutions to complex problems.

The body of an engaging research paper flows smoothly from one idea to the next. Create an outline before writing and order your ideas so that each idea logically leads to another.

The conclusion of a research paper should summarize your thesis and reinforce your argument. It’s common to restate the thesis in the conclusion of a research paper.

For example, a conclusion for a paper about diversity in the workforce is:

In conclusion, diversity in the workplace is vital to success in the modern business world. By embracing diversity, companies can tap into the full potential of their workforce, promote creativity and innovation, and better connect with a diverse customer base, ultimately leading to greater success and a more prosperous future for all.

Reference Page

The reference page is normally found at the end of a research paper. It provides proof that you did research using credible sources, properly credits the originators of information, and prevents plagiarism.

There are a number of different formats of reference pages, including APA, MLA, and Chicago. Make sure to format your reference page in your teacher’s preferred style.

• Analyze the benefits of diversity in education.
• Are charter schools useful for the national education system?
• How has modern technology changed teaching?
• Discuss the pros and cons of standardized testing.
• What are the benefits of a gap year between high school and college?
• What funding allocations give the most benefit to students?
• Does homeschooling set students up for success?
• Should universities/high schools require students to be vaccinated?
• What effect does rising college tuition have on high schoolers?
• Do students perform better in same-sex schools?
• Discuss and analyze the impacts of a famous musician on pop music.
• How has pop music evolved over the past decade?
• How has the portrayal of women in music changed in the media over the past decade?
• How does a synthesizer work?
• How has music evolved to feature different instruments/voices?
• How has sound effect technology changed the music industry?
• Analyze the benefits of music education in high schools.
• Are rehabilitation centers more effective than prisons?
• Are congestion taxes useful?
• Does affirmative action help minorities?
• Can a capitalist system effectively reduce inequality?
• Is a three-branch government system effective?
• What causes polarization in today’s politics?
• Is the U.S. government racially unbiased?
• Choose a historical invention and discuss its impact on society today.
• Choose a famous historical leader who lost power—what led to their eventual downfall?
• How has your country evolved over the past century?
• What historical event has had the largest effect on the U.S.?
• Has the government’s response to national disasters improved or declined throughout history?
• Discuss the history of the American occupation of Iraq.
• Explain the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
• Is literature relevant in modern society?
• Discuss how fiction can be used for propaganda.
• How does literature teach and inform about society?
• Explain the influence of children’s literature on adulthood.
• How has literature addressed homosexuality?
• Does the media portray minorities realistically?
• Does the media reinforce stereotypes?
• Why have podcasts become so popular?
• Will streaming end traditional television?
• What is a patriot?
• What are the pros and cons of global citizenship?
• What are the causes and effects of bullying?
• Why has the divorce rate in the U.S. been declining in recent years?
• Is it more important to follow social norms or religion?
• What are the responsible limits on abortion, if any?
• How does an MRI machine work?
• Would the U.S. benefit from socialized healthcare?
• Elderly populations
• The education system
• State tax bases
• How do anti-vaxxers affect the health of the country?
• Analyze the costs and benefits of diet culture.
• Should companies allow employees to exercise on company time?
• What is an adequate amount of exercise for an adult per week/per month/per day?
• Discuss the effects of the obesity epidemic on American society.
• Are students smarter since the advent of the internet?
• What departures has the internet made from its original design?
• Has digital downloading helped the music industry?
• Discuss the benefits and costs of stricter internet censorship.
• Analyze the effects of the internet on the paper news industry.
• What would happen if the internet went out?
• How will artificial intelligence (AI) change our lives?
• What are the pros and cons of cryptocurrency?
• How has social media affected the way people relate with each other?
• Should social media have an age restriction?
• Discuss the importance of source software.
• What is more relevant in today’s world: mobile apps or websites?
• How will fully autonomous vehicles change our lives?
• How is text messaging affecting teen literacy?

Mental Health

• What are the benefits of daily exercise?
• How has social media affected people’s mental health?
• What things contribute to poor mental and physical health?
• Analyze how mental health is talked about in pop culture.
• Discuss the pros and cons of more counselors in high schools.
• How does stress affect the body?
• How do emotional support animals help people?
• What are black holes?
• Discuss the biggest successes and failures of the EPA.
• How has the Flint water crisis affected life in Michigan?
• Can science help save endangered species?
• Is the development of an anti-cancer vaccine possible?

Environment

• What are the effects of deforestation on climate change?
• Is climate change reversible?
• How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect global warming and climate change?
• Are carbon credits effective for offsetting emissions or just marketing?
• Is nuclear power a safe alternative to fossil fuels?
• Are hybrid vehicles helping to control pollution in the atmosphere?
• How is plastic waste harming the environment?
• Is entrepreneurism a trait people are born with or something they learn?
• How much more should CEOs make than their average employee?
• Can you start a business without money?
• Should the U.S. raise the minimum wage?
• Discuss how happy employees benefit businesses.
• How important is branding for a business?
• Discuss the ease, or difficulty, of landing a job today.
• What is the economic impact of sporting events?
• Are professional athletes overpaid?
• Should male and female athletes receive equal pay?
• What is a fair and equitable way for transgender athletes to compete in high school sports?
• What are the benefits of playing team sports?
• What is the most corrupt professional sport?

Where to Get More Research Paper Topic Ideas

If you need more help brainstorming topics, especially those that are personalized to your interests, you can use CollegeVine’s free AI tutor, Ivy . Ivy can help you come up with original research topic ideas, and she can also help with the rest of your homework, from math to languages.

Disclaimer: This post includes content sponsored by Lumiere Education.

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500 Good Research Paper Topics

Bonus Material: Essential essay checklist

Writing a research paper for a class and not sure how to start?

One of the most important steps to creating a great paper is finding a good topic! 

Here’s a hand-drafted list from a Princeton grad who has helped professors at Harvard and Yale edit their papers for publication and taught college writing at the University of Notre Dame and .

What’s more, we give you some foolproof formulas for creating your own paper topic to fit the requirements of your class.

Using these simple formulas, we’ve helped hundreds of students turn a B- paper topic into an A+ paper topic.

Keep reading for our list of 500 vetted research paper topics and our magic formulas for creating your own topic!

Of course, if you want help learning to write research papers tailored to your individual needs, check out our one-on-one writing coaching or academic writing workshop . Set up a free consultation to see how we can help you learn to write A+ papers!

Jump to paper topics in:

European & Mediterranean History

African history, asian history, history of the pre-columbian americas.

• Latin American History

History of Science

Politics & public policy, education & education policy, political theory, science policy.

• Health Sciences & Psychology

What is a research paper?

In order to write a good research paper, it’s important to know what it is! 

In general, we can divide academic writing into three broad categories:

• Analytical: analyze the tools an author uses to make their point
• Research: delve deeply into a research topic and share your findings
• Persuasive : argue a specific and nuanced position backed by evidence

What’s the difference between an analytical paper and a research paper? For an analytical paper, it’s okay to just use one or two sources (a book, poem, work of art, piece of music, etc.) and examine them in detail. For a research paper, however, the expectation is that you do, well . . . research .

The depth of research that you’re expected to do will depend on your age and the type of class you’re taking.

In elementary or middle school, a “research paper” might mean finding information from a few general books or encyclopedias in your school library. 

In high school, your teachers might expect you to start using information from academic articles and more specific books. You might use encyclopedias and general works as a starting point, but you’ll be expected to go beyond them and do more work to synthesize information from different perspectives or different types of sources. You may also be expected to do “primary research,” where you study the source material yourself, instead of synthesizing what other people have written about the source material.

In college, you’ll be required to use academic journals and scholarly books, and your professors will now expect that you be more critical of these secondary sources, noticing the methodology and perspectives of whatever articles and books you’re using. 

In more advanced college courses, you’ll be expected to do more exhaustive surveys of the existing literature on a topic. You’ll need to conduct primary research that makes an original contribution to the field—the kind that could be published in a journal article itself.

For a walkthrough of the 12 essential steps to writing a good paper, check out our step-by-step guide .

Working on a research paper? Grab our free checklist to make sure your essay has everything it needs to earn an A grade.

Get the essential essay checklist

What makes a good research paper topic?

One of the most important features of a research paper topic is that it has a clear, narrow focus. 

For example, your teacher may assign you to write a research paper related to the US Revolutionary War. Does that mean that your topic should be “the US Revolutionary War”? 

Definitely not! There’s no way to craft a good paper with in-depth research with such a broad topic. (Unless you’re in elementary or middle school, in which case it’s okay to have a more general topic for your research paper.)

Instead, you need to find a more specific topic within this broader one. There are endless ways that you can make this narrower! Some ideas generated from this one broader topic might be:

• Causes of the US Revolutionary War
• Changes in military strategy during the Revolutionary War
• The experiences of Loyalists to England who remained in the American colonies during the Revolutionary War
• How the Revolutionary War was pivotal for the career of Alexander Hamilton
• The role of alliances with France during the US Revolutionary War
• The experiences of people of color during the Revolutionary War
• How George Washington’s previous military career paved the way for his leadership in the Revolutionary War
• The main types of weaponry during the Revolutionary War
• Changes in clothing and fashion over the courses of the Revolutionary War
• How Valley Forge was a key moment in the Revolutionary War
• How women contributed to the Revolutionary War
• What happened in Amherst, Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War
• Field medicine during the Revolutionary War
• How the Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the Revolutionary War
• How different opinions about the Revolutionary War were reflected in poetry written during that time
• Debates over abolition during the Revolutionary War
• The importance of supply chains during the Revolutionary War
• Reactions to the US Revolutionary war in Europe
• How the US Revolutionary war impacted political theory in England and France
• Similarities and differences between the US Revolutionary War and the French Revolution
• Famous paintings inspired by the US Revolutionary War
• Different ways that the US Revolutionary War has been depicted in modern contemporary culture
• The appropriation of the “Boston Tea Party” by US politicians in the 2010s

This list could go on forever!

In fact, any of these topics could become even more specific. For example, check out the evolution of this topic:

• Economic causes of the Revolutionary war
• The way that tax policies helped lead to the Revolutionary War
• How tax laws enacted 1763–1775 helped lead to the Revolutionary War
• How the tax-free status of the British East India Company helped lead to the Revolutionary War
• How the 1773 tax-free status of the British East India Company helped lead to the Revolutionary War, as reflected in letters written 1767–1775
• How the 1773 tax-free status of the British East India Company helped lead to the Revolutionary War, as reflected in letters written by members of the Sons of Liberty 1767–1775

As you advance in your educational career, you’ll need to make your topic more and more specific. Steps 1–3 of this topic might be okay in high school, but for a college research paper steps 4–7 would be more appropriate!

As you craft your research paper topic, you should also keep in mind the availability of research materials on your subject. There are millions of topics that would make interesting research papers, but for which you yourself might not be able to investigate with the primary and secondary sources to which you have access.

Access to research materials might look like:

• To the best of our knowledge, the sources exist somewhere
• The source isn’t behind a paywall (or you or your school can pay for it)
• Your school or local library has a copy of the source
• Your school or local library can order a copy of the source for you
• The source is in a language that you speak
• The source has been published already (there’s tons of amazing research that hasn’t been published yet, a frustrating problem!)
• You can access the archive, museum, or database where the primary source is held—this might mean online access or travel! To access a source in an archive or museum you’ll often need permission, which often requires a letter of support from your school.

If you’re not sure about access to source materials, talk to a librarian! They’re professionals for this question.

Finally, pick a research topic that interests you! Given that there are unlimited research topics in the world and many ways to adapt a broad topic, there should absolutely be a way to modify a research topic to fit your interests.

Want help learning to write an amazing research paper? Work one-on-one with an experienced Ivy-League tutor to improve your writing skills or sign up for our bestselling academic writing workshop .

Insider tips to generate your own research paper topic

Use these formulas to generate your own research paper topics:

• How did X change over a period of time (year, decade, century)?
• What is the impact (or consequences) of X?
• What led to X?
• What is the role of X in Y?
• How did X influence Y?
• How did X become Y?
• How was X different from Y?
• How is X an example of Y?
• How did X affect Y?
• What were some reactions to X?
• What are the most effective policies to produce X result?
• What are some risks of X?
• How is our current understanding of X incorrect? (advanced)
• What happens if we look at X through the lens of Y theory or perspective? (advanced)

A good research paper topic often starts with the question words—why, how, what, who, and where. Remember to make it as specific as possible!

Good research paper topics

These research paper topics have been vetted by a Princeton grad and academic book editor!

• How did European rivalries (British vs French) impact North American history?
• What was the role of British and French alliances with indigneous tribes during the Seven Years’ War?
• Reactions to the 1754 Albany Congress among North American intellectual figures
• How the Albany Plan served as a model for future attempts at union among the North American colonies
• How did different religious identities (Calvinist, Catholic, etc.) play a role in the aftermath of the Seven Years’ War?
• What were the consequences of the 1763 Treaty of Paris?
• How did the Seven Years’ War impact British debt and colonial economics?
• What were some causes of the US Revolutionary War?
• How did military strategy change during the Revolutionary War?
• What were the experiences of Loyalists to England who remained in the American colonies during the Revolutionary War?
• How was the Revolutionary War pivotal for the career of Alexander Hamilton?
• What was the role of alliances with France during the US Revolutionary War?
• What were the experiences of people of color during the Revolutionary War?
• How did George Washington’s previous military career pave the way for his leadership in the Revolutionary War?
• What were the main types of weaponry during the Revolutionary War? How did that affect the options for military strategies?
• How did clothing and fashion change over the courses of the Revolutionary War?
• How was Valley Forge a key moment in the Revolutionary War?
• How did women contribute to the Revolutionary War?
• What happened in Amherst, Massachusetts (or any other specific location) during the Revolutionary War?
• What was field medicine like during the Revolutionary War? 
• How was the Battle of Saratoga a turning point in the Revolutionary War?
• How were different opinions about the Revolutionary War reflected in poetry written during that time?
• What were the debates over abolition during the Revolutionary War?
• What was the role of supply chains during the Revolutionary War?
• What were reactions to the US Revolutionary war like in Europe? What does that tell us about politics in England, France, the Netherlands, etc?
• How did the US Revolutionary war impact political theory in England and France?
• What are similarities and differences between the US Revolutionary War and the French Revolution?
• What are some famous paintings inspired by the US Revolutionary War? What do differences between these paintings tell us about how the artists who created them saw the war?
• What are some different ways that the US Revolutionary War has been depicted in modern contemporary culture? What does that tell us?
• How was the story of the “Boston Tea Party” appropriated by US politicians in the 2010s, and why?
• What was the difference between the Federalists and the Jeffersonians?
• How did the 1797 XYZ Affair lead to the Quasi-War with France?
• How were loans from European countries and companies (France, Spain, Dutch bankers) key to the early US?
• What were reactions to the Constitutional Convention of 1787?
• Why did the US remain neutral during the French Revolution?
• How did the Alien and Sedition acts contribute to the election of Thomas Jefferson as president?
• What was the US’s reaction to the Haitian revolution? Why did the US not recognize Haitian independence until 1862?
• What were the reactions to John Jay’s Treaty of 1794?
• How have the remarks made by George Washington in his Farewell Address inspired isolationist policies?
• How did interpretations of the Monroe Doctrine change over the decades since its creation? 
• How did the Roosevelt Corollary and Lodge Corollary change and expand the Monroe Doctrine?
• How did the presence of US companies like the United Fruit Company affect US military interventions in Latin America? 
• How was the Monroe Doctrine invoked in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962? 
• How was US culture shaped by the Cold War?
• How did ecology play a role in the rise of Ancient Egypt?
• How did water management technologies impact Ancient Egypt?
• How did bureaucracies function in Ancient Egypt?
• How did Egyptian art influence Ancient Greek art?
• Who could be a citizen in Athens in the 5th century BCE? What does this tell us about classical Athenian society?
• What was the impact of the Peloponnesian War?
• What was the impact of Alexander the Great’s attempt to create an empire?
• How does the way that Alexander the Great is represented in art demonstrate conceptions about the relationship between the human and the divine?
• Was there a conception of race in the ancient world? How were these ideas different from our own modern conceptions of race?
• What was the role of debt slavery in the Roman republic? How were these policies ended, and what is the significance of the end of debt slavery? What kinds of slavery remained?
• To what degree does the movie Gladiator accurately the Roman Empire in 176–192 CE?
• What was the role of slavery in managing the large latifundia ?
• How and why did the emperor Constantine I adopt Christianity?
• How did patterns of urbanism in the latter Roman empire change? What does this tell us about challenges being faced at that time?
• What do reactions to the Byzantine empress Theodora tell us about ideas of gender in 6th-century Byzantium?
• How did scientific advancements in Islamic Spain influence the rest of Europe?
• What was the relationship between Muslim, Christian, and Jewish populations in Islamic Spain? How does this compare to the experience of Muslim and Jewish populations in Christian Spain?
• How did medieval troubadour poetry represent a new idea of romantic relationships?
• What are similarities and differences between medieval troubadour poetry and lyric poetry in Ancient Greece? 
• What do letters between women and popes tell us about gender, power, and religion in medieval Europe?
• In what ways was Hildegard of Bingen groundbreaking for her time?
• Who produced beer in medieval England, and what does this tell us about society?
• How did the adoption of hops affect the production and distribution of beer?
• How did beer production allow some women a way to be financially independent?
• How was clothing used to mark religious and cultural identities in 15th- and 16th-century Spain?
• How did print culture change relationships and courting in Georgian England?
• How did churches function as social gathering spaces in Georgian England?
• To what degree is Netflix’s Bridgerton series historically accurate?
• How did ideas of love change in the 18th century? How did philosophy play a role in this?
• When were Valentine cards first commercially available? What does that show us about cultural ideas of love and courtship?
• What were the consequences of the desertification of the Sahara?
• How did trade links on the Red Sea influence Nubian culture?
• How did Carthage build power in Northern Africa around 600–500 BCE?
• What was the impact of the Mercenary War (241–238 BCE) in Carthage?
• How did the Roman province of Africa play a key role in financing the Roman Empire?
• What were the consequences of the Donatist division in the 300s in Northern Africa?
• What was the impact of the large-scale movement of Bedouins from the Arabian peninsula into the Maghreb?
• How was Mande society organized in the Mali Empire? 
• What was the role of the book trade in Timbuktu? What does this tell us about culture and learning in the Mali Empire?
• How did Aksum use trade to build wealth and power? 
• What do Nok terracotta sculptures tell us about Nok culture?
• How did the Luba Empire create a centralized political system? How did the idea of spiritual kins ( balopwe ) play a role in this system?
• How did tax collection work in the Lunda empire?
• What does it mean to say that the Ajuran Empire was a hydraulic empire? How did control over water resources allow the Ajuran Empire to build and consolidate power?
• What is the significance of diplomatic ties between the Somai Ajuran Empire and Ming dynasty China? 
• How did the tribute system in the Kingdom of Kongo help to stimulate interregional trade?
• What was the impact of the introduction of maize and cassava to the Kingdom of Kongo?
• How did women wield influence in the Kingdom of Benin?
• How did the Industrial Revolution in Europe help lead to the Scramble for Africa 1878–1898?
• What were the consequences of the Second Boer War?
• What happened in the Year of Africa (1960)?
• How did the Han dynasty consolidate power in frontier regions? 
• How and why did the Han dynasty nationalize the private salt and iron industries in 117 BCE?
• What are the earliest records of papermaking, and what is the significance of this invention?
• What was the role of Daoist religious societies in rebellions at the end of the Han dynasty (Yellow Turban Rebellion, Five Pecks of Rice Rebellion)?
• What do tomb paintings tell us about ancient Chinese society?
• What was the impact of the Sui dynasty’s standardization and re-unification of the coinage?
• What was the role of standardized testing in Sui dynasty and Tang dynasty China?
• Why is the Tang dynasty often regarded as a golden age of cosmopolitan culture in Chinese history?
• What was the role of slavery in imperial China? 
• How did the rise of jiedushi (regional military governments) undermine the civil-service system? What were the consequences of this?
• How did Tang dynasty China exert power over Japan and Korea?
• What was the Three Departments and Six Ministries system in imperial China and how did it work?
• What does the appearance of Inca, Maya, and Aztec goods in North America (Utah, Canada) and the appearance of goods from the Great Lakes region in Maya and Aztec ruins tell us about trade in the Pre-Columbian Americas?
• How did celebration of maize play a central role in Mesoamerican cultures?
• How did the Aztec empire use relationships with client city-states to establish power? How did the Aztec empire use taxation to exert power?
• How did the luxury good trade impact Aztec political power? 
• How did the building of roads play a key role in the Aztec empire?
• How and why has archaeology played a pivotal role in expanding our understanding of the pre-Columbian Americas?
• What are some common misconceptions about the Americas in the year 1491? Why do these misconceptions exist?

Latin American History (post-1492)

• How and why did the Spanish appropriate Aztec sites of significance (e.g. Mexico City at the site of Tenochtitlan)?
• What were reactions among Latin American intellectuals (e.g. Luis María Drago, Alejandro Álvarez and Baltasar Brum) to the Monroe Doctrine?
• How was the US’s involvement in the Venezuela Crisis of 1902–1903 a pivotal turning point in the relationship between the US and Latin American countries?
• What were the effects of the US’s involvement in the Cuban War for Independence?
• How did the Roosevelt Corollary of 1904 benefit the US?
• How did Simon Bolivar’s time in Europe affect his ideas about Latin American independence?
• How did 19th century academic societies play a role in the advancement of scientific discoveries? Who was excluded from these societies?
• How was music connected to the sciences in medieval thinking?
• When was the concept of zero first used, and how was it instrumental for advancements in math?
• What role did Islamic Spain play in the spread of scientific advancements in medieval Europe?
• What role has translation between languages played in the development of sciences?
• Why were Galileo’s ideas about astronomy controversial at the time?
• What was the connection between art and advancements in human anatomy?
• Why were Darwin’s ideas about natural selection controversial at the time?
• To what degree does the film Master and Commander accurately depict the voyages of Charles Darwin?
• How did the discovery of quinine and other medical innovations help to facilitate the European colonization of Africa?
• How and why was the internet invented?
• Does Virgil’s Aeneid celebrate the new Roman Empire or subvert it?
• Why was the poet Ovid exiled from Rome?
• What are the pagan influences in Beowulf ? What are the Christian elements in Beowulf ? What does that tell us about late Anglo-Saxon England?
• How does Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales reflect gender roles in late medieval England?
• How does Dante’s Inferno draw on book IV of Virgil’s Aeneid ? 
• How are gender roles presented and subverted in Shakespeare’s plays?
• To what degree did Henry David Thoreau live out the ideals he described in Walden in his own life?
• How did the serialized publication of novels affect the way that they were written?
• Does Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities accurately portray the French Revolution?
• How did 18th-century novels propagate the idea of marrying for love?
• What did contemporary readers think about Jane Austen and her novels?
• To what degree do Jane Austen’s novels reflect economic realities for women in Regency England? What do they leave out?
• How did Lord Byron’s personal life affect his poetry?
• What do we know about the romantic life of Emily Dickinson?
• What were the religious movements that influenced the writer George Eliot, and how do those influences appear in her novels?
• In what ways were Walt Whitman’s writings new or different?
• How did British poets react to the horrors of Word War I?
• What do Tolkien’s letters reveal about the ways in which the two world wars influenced his writings?
• How did the friendship between CS Lewis and Tolkien affect their respective writings?
• What are the arguments for and against Catalonian independence from Spain?
• What are the arguments for and against Scottish independence from the United Kingdom?
• What are some risks of contact sports, especially for children?
• What are the most effective policies for combating childhood obesity?
• What are the most effective policies for reducing gun violence?
• Which countries have the longest life expectancy and why?
• What are some differences between the healthcare system in the US and in European countries? Which country has the most similar system to the US?
• What policies for parental leave exist in different countries? What are some effects of these policies?
• Has the drinking age in the US always been 21? What have been some different policies, and what were some consequences of them?
• What is the debate around museum artifacts like the Elgin Marbles in London or the Benin Bronzes in Berlin?
• How have politicians attempted to control population growth in different countries, either directly or indirectly? What have been some effects of these policies?
• Which countries have the most gender parity reflected in national governments? How have they accomplished this?
• How has public funding of K-12 education changed since the 1930s in the US? 
• How has public funding of higher education changed in the US?
• What is early childhood education like in different countries?
• What are some effects of free or reduced-cost meals in schools?
• How does access to menstrual products affect education outcomes for girls in different countries?
• What was the impact of Rousseau’s writings on education?
• How did Plato’s ideal forms of government reflect contemporary Athenian concerns about the unruly masses ( demos )?
• How did Aristotle justify slavery?
• How has wealth inequality increased in recent decades?
• How is inflation calculated, and what are the implications of this methodology?
• How have genetically-engineered crops changed the way that the planet feeds itself?
• How has animal testing changed since 2000?
• How is animal testing regulated differently in different countries?

Health Sciences and Psychology

• How do different societies reflect the natural circadian rhythms of the human body?
• How does secondhand smoke affect the human body?
• How does lack of sleep affect the body?
• How does stress affect the body?
• What are some ways to reduce stress?
• How have cancer treatments changed in the past 30 years?
• Why is it hard to find a “cure” for cancer?
• How has the Human Genome Project changed medical science?
• How were the Covid vaccines developed so quickly? What is the difference between the various Covid vaccines that have been developed?

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Emily graduated  summa cum laude  from Princeton University and holds an MA from the University of Notre Dame. She was a National Merit Scholar and has won numerous academic prizes and fellowships. A veteran of the publishing industry, she has helped professors at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton revise their books and articles. Over the last decade, Emily has successfully mentored hundreds of students in all aspects of the college admissions process, including the SAT, ACT, and college application essay. 

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1000+ FREE Research Topics & Title Ideas

Select your area of interest to view a collection of potential research topics and ideas.

Or grab the full list 📋 (for free)

PS – You can also check out our free topic ideation webinar for more ideas

How To Find A Research Topic

If you’re struggling to get started, this step-by-step video tutorial will help you find the perfect research topic.

Research Topic FAQs

What (exactly) is a research topic.

A research topic is the subject of a research project or study – for example, a dissertation or thesis. A research topic typically takes the form of a problem to be solved, or a question to be answered.

A good research topic should be specific enough to allow for focused research and analysis. For example, if you are interested in studying the effects of climate change on agriculture, your research topic could focus on how rising temperatures have impacted crop yields in certain regions over time.

To learn more about the basics of developing a research topic, consider our free research topic ideation webinar.

What constitutes a good research topic?

A strong research topic comprises three important qualities : originality, value and feasibility.

• Originality – a good topic explores an original area or takes a novel angle on an existing area of study.
• Value – a strong research topic provides value and makes a contribution, either academically or practically.
• Feasibility – a good research topic needs to be practical and manageable, given the resource constraints you face.

To learn more about what makes for a high-quality research topic, check out this post .

What's the difference between a research topic and research problem?

A research topic and a research problem are two distinct concepts that are often confused. A research topic is a broader label that indicates the focus of the study , while a research problem is an issue or gap in knowledge within the broader field that needs to be addressed.

To illustrate this distinction, consider a student who has chosen “teenage pregnancy in the United Kingdom” as their research topic. This research topic could encompass any number of issues related to teenage pregnancy such as causes, prevention strategies, health outcomes for mothers and babies, etc.

Within this broad category (the research topic) lies potential areas of inquiry that can be explored further – these become the research problems . For example:

• What factors contribute to higher rates of teenage pregnancy in certain communities?
• How do different types of parenting styles affect teen pregnancy rates?
• What interventions have been successful in reducing teenage pregnancies?

Simply put, a key difference between a research topic and a research problem is scope ; the research topic provides an umbrella under which multiple questions can be asked, while the research problem focuses on one specific question or set of questions within that larger context.

How can I find potential research topics for my project?

There are many steps involved in the process of finding and choosing a high-quality research topic for a dissertation or thesis. We cover these steps in detail in this video (also accessible below).

How can I find quality sources for my research topic?

Finding quality sources is an essential step in the topic ideation process. To do this, you should start by researching scholarly journals, books, and other academic publications related to your topic. These sources can provide reliable information on a wide range of topics. Additionally, they may contain data or statistics that can help support your argument or conclusions.

Identifying Relevant Sources

When searching for relevant sources, it’s important to look beyond just published material; try using online databases such as Google Scholar or JSTOR to find articles from reputable journals that have been peer-reviewed by experts in the field.

You can also use search engines like Google or Bing to locate websites with useful information about your topic. However, be sure to evaluate any website before citing it as a source—look for evidence of authorship (such as an “About Us” page) and make sure the content is up-to-date and accurate before relying on it.

Evaluating Sources

Once you’ve identified potential sources for your research project, take some time to evaluate them thoroughly before deciding which ones will best serve your purpose. Consider factors such as author credibility (are they an expert in their field?), publication date (is the source current?), objectivity (does the author present both sides of an issue?) and relevance (how closely does this source relate to my specific topic?).

By researching the current literature on your topic, you can identify potential sources that will help to provide quality information. Once you’ve identified these sources, it’s time to look for a gap in the research and determine what new knowledge could be gained from further study.

How can I find a good research gap?

Finding a strong gap in the literature is an essential step when looking for potential research topics. We explain what research gaps are and how to find them in this post.

How should I evaluate potential research topics/ideas?

When evaluating potential research topics, it is important to consider the factors that make for a strong topic (we discussed these earlier). Specifically:

• Originality
• Feasibility

So, when you have a list of potential topics or ideas, assess each of them in terms of these three criteria. A good topic should take a unique angle, provide value (either to academia or practitioners), and be practical enough for you to pull off, given your limited resources.

Finally, you should also assess whether this project could lead to potential career opportunities such as internships or job offers down the line. Make sure that you are researching something that is relevant enough so that it can benefit your professional development in some way. Additionally, consider how each research topic aligns with your career goals and interests; researching something that you are passionate about can help keep motivation high throughout the process.

How can I assess the feasibility of a research topic?

When evaluating the feasibility and practicality of a research topic, it is important to consider several factors.

First, you should assess whether or not the research topic is within your area of competence. Of course, when you start out, you are not expected to be the world’s leading expert, but do should at least have some foundational knowledge.

Time commitment

When considering a research topic, you should think about how much time will be required for completion. Depending on your field of study, some topics may require more time than others due to their complexity or scope.

Additionally, if you plan on collaborating with other researchers or institutions in order to complete your project, additional considerations must be taken into account such as coordinating schedules and ensuring that all parties involved have adequate resources available.

Resources needed

It’s also critically important to consider what type of resources are necessary in order to conduct the research successfully. This includes physical materials such as lab equipment and chemicals but can also include intangible items like access to certain databases or software programs which may be necessary depending on the nature of your work. Additionally, if there are costs associated with obtaining these materials then this must also be factored into your evaluation process.

Potential risks

It’s important to consider the inherent potential risks for each potential research topic. These can include ethical risks (challenges getting ethical approval), data risks (not being able to access the data you’ll need), technical risks relating to the equipment you’ll use and funding risks (not securing the necessary financial back to undertake the research).

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