By definition a research paper requires the writer to learn a great deal about their subject, so it is always a good practice to select a topic that truly interests you before you begin gathering sources. If you are interested in your topic, learning about it will be more pleasurable and you will write with greater passion, so choose your topic thoughtfully. Use the following list of 101 research paper topics as a starting point for your paper. As you begin learning and writing about your topic, you should revise or amend your research question or thesis statement to better match the information that you are interpreting, analyzing, and expressing. Let your interest guide you. If you’re not having fun learning and writing about your topic, perhaps you should pick one that interests you more.
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101 Research Paper Topics
By: Mr. Mortini 
- Why do we sleep?
- How do GPS systems work?
- Who was the first person to reach the North Pole?
- Did anybody ever escape Alcatraz?
- What was life like for a gladiator?
- What are the effects of prolonged steroid use on the human body?
- What happened during the Salem witch trials?
- Are there any effective means of repelling insects?
- How did trains and railroads change life in America?
- What may have occurred during the Roswell UFO incident of 1947?
- How is bulletproof clothing made?
- What Olympic events were practiced in ancient Greece?
- What are the major theories explaining the disappearance of the dinosaurs?
- How was the skateboard invented and how has it changed over the years?
- How did the long bow contribute to English military dominance?
- What caused the stock market crash of 2008?
- How did Cleopatra come to power in Egypt what did she do during her reign?
- How has airport security intensified since September 11th, 2001?
- What is life like inside of a beehive?
- Where did hip hop originate and who were its founders?
- What makes the platypus a unique and interesting mammal?
- How does tobacco use affect the human body?
- How do computer viruses spread and in what ways do they affect computers?
- What is daily life like for a Buddhist monk?
- What are the origins of the conflict in Darfur?
- How did gunpowder change warfare?
- In what ways do Wal-Mart stores affect local economies?
- How were cats and dogs domesticated and for what purposes?
- What do historians know about ninjas?
- How has the music industry been affected by the internet and digital downloading?
- What were the circumstances surrounding the death of Osama Bin Laden?
- What was the women’s suffrage movement and how did it change America?
- What efforts are being taken to protect endangered wildlife?
- How much does the war on drugs cost Americans each year?
- How is text messaging affecting teen literacy?
- Are humans still evolving?
- What technologies are available to home owners to help them conserve energy?
- How have oil spills affected the planet and what steps are being taken to prevent them?
- What was the Magna Carta and how did it change England?
- What is the curse of the pharaohs?
- Why was Socrates executed?
- What nonlethal weapons are used by police to subdue rioters?
- How does the prison population in America compare to other nations?
- How did ancient sailors navigate the globe?
- Can gamblers ever acquire a statistical advantage over the house in casino games?
- What is alchemy and how has it been attempted?
- How are black holes formed?
- How was the assassination of Abraham Lincoln plotted and executed?
- Do the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks?
- How do submarines work?
- Do lie detector tests accurately determine truthful statements?
- How did Cold War tension affect the US and the world?
- What happened to the lost settlers at Roanoke?
- How does a hybrid car save energy?
- What ingredients can be found inside of a hotdog?
- How did Julius Caesar affect Rome?
- What are some common sleep disorders and how are they treated?
- How did the Freedom Riders change society?
- How is internet censorship used in China and around the world?
- What was the code of the Bushido and how did it affect samurai warriors?
- What are the risks of artificial tanning or prolonged exposure to the sun?
- What programs are available to help war veterans get back into society?
- What steps are involved in creating a movie or television show?
- How have the film and music industries dealt with piracy?
- How did Joan of Ark change history?
- What responsibilities do secret service agents have?
- How does a shark hunt?
- What dangers and hardships did Lewis and Clark face when exploring the Midwest?
- Has the Patriot Act prevented or stopped terrorist acts in America?
- Do states that allow citizens to carry guns have higher or lower crime rates?
- How are the Great Depression and the Great Recession similar and different?
- What are the dangers of scuba diving and underwater exploration?
- How does the human brain store and retrieve memories?
- What was the Manhattan Project and what impact did it have on the world?
- How does stealth technology shield aircraft from radar?
- What causes tornados?
- Why did Marin Luther protest against the Catholic Church?
- How does a search engine work?
- What are the current capabilities and future goals of genetic engineers?
- How did the Roman Empire fall?
- What obstacles faced scientists in breaking the sound barrier?
- How did the black plague affect Europe?
- What happened to Amelia Earhart?
- What are the dangers and hazards of using nuclear power?
- How did Genghis Khan conquer Persia?
- What architectural marvels were found in Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire?
- From where does spam email come and can we stop it?
- How does night vision work?
- How did journalists influence US war efforts in Vietnam?
- What are the benefits and hazards of medical marijuana?
- What causes desert mirages and how do they affect wanderers?
- What was the cultural significance of the first moon landing?
- What are sinkholes and how are they formed?
- Have any psychics ever solved crimes or prevented them from occurring?
- Who is Vlad the Impaler and what is his connection to Count Dracula?
- What are the risks of climate change and global warming?
- What treatments are available to people infected with HIV and are they effective?
- Who was a greater inventor, Leonardo di Vinci or Thomas Edison?
- How are the Chinese and American economies similar and different?
- Why was communism unsuccessful in so many countries?
- In what ways do video games affect children and teenagers?
I hope this list will help you choose a topic for your research paper. Remember that these ideas should be used as a starting point; you will have to make these topics your own during the writing and research process. Don’t be afraid to alter and revise your thesis or research question to better match your interests or to align with your research. Would you like to suggest a research paper topic? Leave it in the comments below.
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Nimkur Nimmyel
/ January 30, 2013can i pls have a research work on the topic “Effects of climatic factors on maize yield”?
Mr. Morton
/ February 3, 2013Technology is amazing.
Ms. B
/ January 31, 2013I am on a college research team (Geography) . We are brainstorming. Presently we have two ideas for our topic: Finding our place in this world. The move from childhood to an adult. What makes one an adult? and
Should two parents work?/ The cost of two parents working.
Either of these sounds good?
Mr. Morton
/ February 3, 2013Those both sound like interesting topics to study. Best wishes!
Krystel
/ February 1, 2013I have just started my researching project and i have no idea what topic to study, would someone please able to help me? i would like something along the lines of hospitals or child care. Ta !
Mr. Morton
/ February 3, 2013I believe studying the decline of state funded mental institutions would make for an interesting topic. It seems that our country currently has no good plans for dealing with people with mental troubles and it’d be interesting to examine what approaches were used in the past and why these approaches are no longer used; however, that’s probably not the topic that you are looking for.
hillarion
/ February 3, 2013I want to research a topic on the field of cosmetology. Can you check the wording and comment on the topic. How Form three (grade 10) boys in school ,consider cosmetology as a viable option for an area of study.
Mr. Morton
/ February 3, 2013Well, I don’t know exactly where you could go with this topic. Maybe researching the regulation / lack of regulation in the field?
Josh
/ February 5, 2013Hi I love your page and got some great ideas from it and from the comments posted. Im a tech major doing a 12-15pg paper.
My number 1topic choice is: Energy war – How does our state of energy affect our daily life? What is alternative energy and how does it work?
And the #2 is: The universe – How do black holes, stars, pulsars…etc form? What are the theories out there and which have been proven/disproved?
Any ideas or questions you could add to either of those 2 topics? Or any way to refine them or could I even combine the 2 topics? Thank you very much!
Mr. Morton
/ February 14, 2013I got one: how can we harness the energy from black holes to power our toasters? Just playing. Those topics seem rather disparate, but I’m sure that you’ve figured it out by now.
Abeer
/ February 10, 2013hi! im from arab country. i want to start my project on research writing .. but i dont know what topic im gonna to choose ????
can any one help me …. pls
i want an intresting subjcut that when you read the topice ,it must makes you intrested to read…. thanks
Laura
/ February 11, 2013i am trying to find a great topic for a research paper. something alngthe lines of crime scene investigation. please help me
Mr. Morton
/ February 14, 2013How about how technology is changing approached to crime scene investigations?
isabelle
/ February 13, 2013I’m starting a research project and my topic is on the moon landing conspiracy theories. Any ideas of what I could use as my research question for my topic?
Mr. Morton
/ February 14, 2013Well, I think that sounds like an interesting and fun topic, although finding credible scholarly material may be difficult. I like using Google scholar.
Rita
/ February 17, 2013This page is great , I am supposed to do a research paper on the choice of my own, from the above list i have chosen how airport security intensified after sept 11.
Any more tips how to go about collecting data , Thanks Rita.
Mr. Morton
/ March 3, 2013That sounds great. You surely could use traditional research sources: article databases, published texts, etc. But since this subject is so intimate and memorable to Americans over the age of 21, you may want to conduct some interview too. That would be fun way to connect with people and collect first-hand information.
Kerrie Z
/ February 26, 2013I was wondering if you had any tips or lessons for teaching note taking skills for middle school?
Mr. Morton
/ May 1, 2013Yes. Write down what the teacher writes down.
I have no such study skills resources, but would like to add some in the future. I will keep you posted if I do. Best wishes!
Samuel Njiiru
/ March 1, 2013I am a college student and I am undertaking a community development course ,I am supposed to do a research and am thinkig about resaervhing on why do women never vote for a woman candidate besides their bigger number in populayion as compared to men. Please I need an advice
Mr. Morton
/ March 3, 2013Well, your thesis is inherently sexist and seems to be flawed. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama had an intense runoff in the Democratic Primary race of 2008. But don’t let my views taint your ambition. You may have difficulty locating sources for your topic, but if it is of great interest to you, I’m sure that there are some works out there about this issue. Best wishes!
Blair
/ March 3, 2013Hi Mr Morton. I’ve found your list incredibly helpful however as part of my honours program at school we have to choose a topic for a yearlong research project in which we’re aided by a mentor, professional in their chosen field. I’ve narrowed my potential areas to: Body Language, Fashion, Crime Investigation (Legal and Philosophical Aspects, Philosophy (I know, exceptionally broad) and Time Travel. Any ideas or suggestions you have about the above topics would be much appreciated! Thank you.
Mr. Morton
/ March 3, 2013Well, it’s really going to be an issue of interest, since you will have to sift through many texts to become knowledgeable about your topic. Additionally, you’ll want to consider available research: though time travel is an interesting topic, you may have difficultly locating reliable sources. If you want my opinion, however, I suggest that you choose body language, as understanding this topic is immediately helpful pretty much everywhere.
Phuong
/ March 3, 2013This year i have to do a research paper at my college. I have got an idea for this but i’m not sure whether it is good enough. pls can you narrow down for me if it’s too general. (my quantity requirement of this project is about 2000 words)
” how busy parents affect their childs under the age of 5 in Viet Nam”.
Mr. Morton
/ March 3, 2013That sounds like an interesting topic. By focusing on Vietnam, however, you may be limiting your research base. Perhaps try searching for the effects of two working parents on children, and then develop a regional focus if you find the available sources. Best wishes!
Lauren
/ March 4, 2013I’m in the process of trying to come up with a good topic for a Synthesis/research paper…I want to do something with music and the media….any ideas?
Mr. Morton
/ March 13, 2013How about: how multimodal literacy is affecting education?
Saba
/ March 4, 2013hi
)
you have a nice collection of topics but If I want to write a research paper about a subject how come I can find all the answers or articles available on the net ,, I mean isn’t suppose to be a ” new ” discussion with new info ,,, and how can I make my paper worth ??
Regards
Mr. Morton
/ March 13, 2013As a college professor of mine once told me: writing a research paper is like joining in a conversation at a party. You sort of “listen” to what the other people have to say, and then join in and try to add something new at the end. I agree with him.
Nicole
/ March 5, 2013In preparing for a research paper I was asked to list 6-8 topics that I find interesting. The one topic that I am interested in most is gymnastics. But how could I turn that into a research paper? I was thinking maybe something along the lines of ‘How does a gymnasts body differ from everyone elses?’ as in their joints (double-jointed?) and shape of their spines.
Mr. Morton
/ March 13, 2013There are a lot of different ways that you could go. One interesting topic might be a compare and contrast style analysis of different Olympic training programs: Russia, China, America, etc. I’m not too knowledgeable about your topic, but anything that you can find research on is a workable topic. Best wishes!
Ninna
/ March 12, 2013I want to write something about Renaissance in Europe. Can someone help me with the topic, pealse ??
Mr. Morton
/ March 13, 2013The Renaissance in Europe is too large of a topic. Begin by isolating something interesting to you: art, philosophy, disease, military conscription etc., and / or narrow by region or country. Perhaps this may lead to a specific person and maybe a specific part of that person’s life. In any event, you must hone in on your interests.
Katherine
/ March 13, 2013Hi! i am having a problem in selecting a research. Topic.I have selected the following topics.Kindly tell me which one is better and what modifications should I make.
1-How yellow journalism affects the perception of people in developing countries
2-Increase in Yellow journalism
3-Yellow Journalism in all part of world divides people in thinking.
Mr. Morton
/ March 13, 2013Wow, that’s an interesting start. For those who don’t know what yellow journalism is. I would pursue the second topic and link it to the internet. I’d begin with a thesis, something to the extent of: the click driven internet economy has led to an increase in yellow journalism. This article can speak to the production of misleading headlines solely to generate clicks. Other people must have thought about this too…
Kennedy Stuart
/ March 18, 2013I want to do a research paper on MMA….Can anyone help with ideas? Please and thanks!
Mr. Morton
/ March 21, 2013I would explore attempts to ban mixed martial arts fighting and how they have influenced the evolution of the sport, including the addition of rules and weight classes. Thanks for visiting!
Alyssa
/ March 18, 2013Hello! I’ve been looking for topics to research related to mental illnesses for my English project. I don’t want it to be exact research of mental illnesses, but things similar to well known, or not very well known illnesses, and things relating to mental institutions. I’m mainly focusing on teens. Thanks!
Mr. Morton
/ March 21, 2013That’s an interesting topic. I’d examine how society is dealing with mental illness in impoverished people. It seems to me that jails have become the de facto mental institutions, and surely there is something to be said about that. Best wishes!
Sarah
/ March 19, 2013I’m about to begin writing a research paper and was wanting to write about body languages or something in the forensic sciences. Do you have any ideas?
Mr. Morton
/ March 21, 2013I think it’d be pretty easy to write a paper about body language. There is an abundance of material on the subject, and it’s an interesting topic. If you need to narrow the topic down, perhaps focus on a specific aspect of body language, like common body signals that indicate that someone is lying, or attracted to someone and so forth. Best wishes!
ikhlas
/ March 20, 2013Hi,
i am writing a research about the portayal of woman in american literature.Can u help me with any advice.Thanks
Mr. Morton
/ March 21, 2013Seems like an incredibly broad topic. You’ll have to narrow it down. Perhaps compare and contrast the portrayal of women in two novels, maybe Sister Carrie and The Awakening?
Katherine H.
/ March 21, 2013I want to do a research paper on organized crime. I want to focus on Al Capone and Bugsy Siegel. How should I go about writing that kind of research paper?
Mr. Morton
/ March 21, 2013I’d explore how prohibition influenced criminal activity.
ANGELLITA DRAYTON
/ March 23, 2013i am needing to write a paper on teenage pregnancy. can u help me narrow that to an expository research topic
Mr. Morton
/ May 1, 2013Perhaps researching aid programs available to single pregnant women in your state?
Lorik
/ March 27, 2013Hi,
I am having hard to find any idea of my research topic about technology, could you please tell me any idea of topics, respectively in networking or mobile networking or anything that is with networking and mobile and Internet. Can you help me with any advice.
Mr. Morton
/ May 1, 2013That’s an interesting field. How about researching how mobile computing is supplanting the home computer market?
Heya
/ April 2, 2013I need to develop a research proposal in response to a business related problem within the service or tourism industry. I’m stuck! Any ideas??
Mr. Morton
/ May 1, 2013How about responses to inclement weather?
Patti Schrimscher
/ April 9, 2013I once done a research paper called “Paperclips vs. Staples” in the workplace. I also took a poll at work to see which was preferred there since they are used everyday. Paperclips won by a long shot. When we received papers with staples, we had to removed them. Sometimes that can be very challenging. You can also get harmed by them. Especially the very large ones. Paperclips you just slide off of the paper.
Anas
/ April 15, 2013hi Mr.Morton.I’m an undergraduate student and I’m looking for research topics. I’m interested in
a. semiotics
b.visual communications
c. rhetoric art in children’s book
I’m not really sure what is the best topic for me and plus i cannot narrow them down..can you give me a few suggestions?
Mr. Morton
/ May 1, 2013Your first two topics are too broad. They are entire subjects on which many texts and classes have been taught. I am interested in your third topic. Perhaps you could apply it to a specific text?
MkDeaustria
/ April 16, 2013I’m about to start my research project and I have no idea of which topic should I pick. I wanted to pick a topic related to math, physics or movies. Could you please suggest me an interesting topic?
Mr. Morton
/ May 1, 2013You’ve got some broad ideas. Why don’t you research a specific law or theory that interests you?
Hazel
/ April 27, 2013Hi, I was to choose my topic about the effects of social networking site to the obscure expression of the youth and I was having a problem to form my research question.. can you help me?
Mr. Morton
/ May 1, 2013Why don’t you start by researching the effects of social networking sites on children and young adults and see where the research takes you. Best wishes!