Choosing a topic: 1. Consider things you are interested in
Choose something you love and enjoy (K-Pop, Anime, playing guitar, gaming, sport, films, shopping)
Choose something you care about (Gender equality, programs to support refugees, free education...)
Choose something you are happy to spend 6 months or more researching (Don't choose something that will be boring in a few weeks)
2. Consider things that you are good at / knowledgeable in and learn more about it
"Play to your strengths" << choose something you are good at and learn something new about it. For example, if you are an artist, you can research an art style and your outcome might be creating work in that style of art. SACE Research Project has an art show of all the students who do this!
You can choose something you already have some knowledge of and research another side of it. For example, if you do Woodwork, you might research how to build a specific type of table. Your outcome might be actually making a table!
3. Consider things that will be useful for you in the future
Work skills: Want to be a builder? Research building safety, or how effective different building designs. Want to be a writer? research the best writing techniques or how to self-publish as a sci-fi author.
Personal skills: investigate how to make your own clothes, how to create your own garden, how to cook, how to dance...
Future skills: What about how to create your own app, or become an influencer, or learn to code? What might help you in the future?
Alright, let's say you've picked your topic. Now it's time to check:
4. Is it researchable? It must be a researchable question. You must show your research. To get a good grade, you need to find a lot of detailed information, on a well-planned topic, in a variety of sources. (It's hard work!) If you do not research, you cannot pass. It is called the Research Project, after all!
5. Pass, or excel? You should ask yourself what you are aiming for. Are you happy just to pass? (Choose an easier topic.) If you want to get a good grade (excel), you will need to think carefully about your topic and how you will do your work.
6. Level of English required You will need to learn the technical (topic) language for your topic and read academic research. Anything on these topics will be more difficult:
Science/ Scientific terms
Law / Legal terms
Medicine/ Medical terms
7. When you have chosen your topic, you will turn it into a question with your teacher's help!
Cancer > Breast Cancer > To what extent does your diet affect your chances of getting breast cancer? Film > Australian film > How accurately does the local film industry reflect Australian society? Youtubers > Youtuber influence > To what extent do young people understand the influence Youtubers have?