Chances are, you feel a severe case of anxiety in class when you need to come up with a good research paper idea. Whether you are working on a senior research paper or you need ideas for your presentation, coming up with paper ideas can be a daunting task.  Here are some tips that worked for me when I needed ideas for research papers, ideas for a senior thesis, and even ideas for a dissertation when I was contemplating writing one.

  1. Write it all down.  Sometimes when you are reading, or in class you get an idea or develop a question.  For example, someone looking for biology research project ideas may come across a passage on osmosis and wonder more about this.  If you come up with an idea or question, write it down so you have it for later.
  2. Create a Mind Map.  If you don't have a list of questions and ideas, you may find it helpful to make what is called a "mind map." A mind map visually realizes your ideas.  Start in the middle of a piece of paper with the general topic.  For example, if you are in a class about Shakespeare, and you're asked to write a paper about imagery in Shakespeare's plays, you would write the general topic in the center of the page.  Then, write down everything that comes to your mind around the general topic, and group related ideas together.
  3. Search the Web. Perhaps your class is on a topic that you aren't interested in, or you just don't know much about the subject matter.  If you search the web for topics you covered in your syllabus, you are sure to find ideas - one caveat: NEVER COPY SOMEONE ELSE'S WORK. This is plagiarism, and it could cost you your grade or even your degree.
  4. Take Inventory of Your Past.  If you are working on a senior project, thesis, or dissertation, look back over things you have written in the past.  What could you elaborate on?  What interests you.  Was there a particular class you took that you wish had lasted longer? Raid your experiences.  Make a list.  You may find that at this point you have so many ideas, it would take three or four lifetimes to actualize them.
  5. Talk with Others About Your Ideas. No, it's never okay to steal someone's ideas, but it can help to have a brainstorm with someone else - a colleague, classmate, or professor can help you develop your ideas whenever you need help.
  6. Hit the Encyclopedias and the Library.  If you have a general idea, looking in the encyclopedia or through books and journal articles can help you to narrow down your ideas.
  7. Keep a Journal.  You'd be surprised at how many ideas you generate when you have the habit of keeping a journal.
  8. Read the Newspaper and Periodicals Related to Your Subject Areas. This simple step will help you to know what the current issues are - no matter what the field is.
These are things I've done when stumped at what to write about for research papers. What are ways you've used for generating ides for research?