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July 6, 2021 Rene Tetzner Advice & Discussions On Preparing & Submitting Journal Articles For Publication
July 6, 2021 Rene Tetzner Advice & Discussions On Preparing & Submitting Journal Articles For Publication
The topic chosen for a research paper must be appropriate for the field of study and observe any specific guidelines
or requirements associated with the intended paper. The editor of a literary journal, for instance, or the instructor of
a literature course will want a paper exploring some aspect of literature, usually the literature of a particular period,
genre, style or author, and the same kind of focus will also be required in other research areas. The length and scope
of the paper as well as the time available to complete the research and writing should certainly be considered when
choosing a topic, and it is always wise to preview recently published sources on a topic to determine how the topic
has been treated in scholarship and whether there is enough material to enable the new research. Topics that are of
concern to both specialists and more general readers tend to be particularly successful, so I have aimed for topics of
this kind in the list below. Areas of interest appear in alphabetical order, and helpful tips are offered amidst the
example topics.
ENGLISH LITERATURE
1. Compare and contrast two different literary texts or the writing of two different authors. Consider a number of
aspects such as genre, style, character development, metaphor, imagery and word play in examining and discussing
the texts.
Tip: Comparing and contrasting two or more things, events or problems in a research paper can be a useful approach
for initiating and focussing an investigation. The secret to success is to choose the items for comparison with care
and to narrow the topic as much as necessary for the intended paper.
2. Discuss the role, suppression and/or rediscovery of pre-twentieth-century women authors in the English literary
canon as it is usually taught in schools.
3. Investigate and discuss the sophisticated use of irony to establish character and communicate potentially
unwelcome concepts to readers in the writing of a major author such as Chaucer, Shakespeare or Dickens.
4. Does quality literature have a positive effect on society? Does it make readers wiser, more perceptive, more
empathetic or perhaps better writers? Views can be supported with both personal and research-based evidence.
HISTORY
1. Investigate and discuss the importance of a major historical event, such as the first moon landing or the
assassination of J.F. Kennedy, of some decisive battle or war, such as the Battle of Hastings or the American Civil
War, or of some revolutionary document, such as Magna Carta or the Declaration of Independence. Why was it so
very important?
2. Did Columbus really ‘discover’ America first? Consider other voyagers – the Vikings and Chinese, for instance –
as well as native populations.
3. Explore the role and importance of salt in world history. This topic could be productively narrowed to focus on a
particular region or period.
4. Learn about a historical individual, family or group through their books. The extensive devotional library of a
twelfth-century monastery, the single anthology of romances owned by a fifteenth-century merchant family or the
esoteric book collection cherished by a renaissance scholar could be considered in terms of content and examined
for reader responses. The possibilities are endless as long as the books can be firmly connected with their historical
readers.
THE INTERNET
1. Has the internet affected the ways in which academic and scientific research is published and made available to
readers? Consider factors such as open access, publisher paywalls, article retractions and scholarly blogs.
2. Does frequent use of the internet enhance or undermine a child’s health, development, education and/or social
skills? Consider what children are doing online as well as what they might be doing were they not online.
3. How big an issue is online security or cyber security as far as you are concerned? What makes you feel safe and
secure about your online activities? What might make you feel safer?
4. Examine one or more of the major problems associated with the internet such as child pornography, erroneous
information or copyright infringement. Are there effective ways to prevent or eliminate such problems?
LAW
1. Look into the incarceration rates in your country. Are they higher or lower than the rates in other countries? Can
you detect a reason for any significant differences? Do you think incarceration is an effective solution for managing
crime and promoting the rehabilitation of criminals?
2. Gun control has been an issue of hot debate in recent years. Consider a variety of perspectives as you argue your
view of the matter.
3. Should people be legally able to take their own lives when they are suffering from a debilitating terminal disease?
Discuss.
4. Despite negative publicity and dire consequences, drivers continue to text while operating vehicles. Why do you
think this happens and what would be the most effective way to prevent the problem?
POLITICS
1. Investigate and discuss the unique nature of the Trump presidency and its implications both within the United
States and beyond.
Tip: For many research paper topics, including the one above, it is essential to recognise your own national and
political perspective (Republican American, Liberal Canadian, etc.), to achieve some level of objectivity and to
support your argument with research-based evidence.
2. Examine the conditions and forces associated with the rise of Nazi Germany. Was WWII inevitable? The focus of
this topic could be shifted to any major war, such as WWI, the Battle of Hastings or the American Civil War.
Discussion of a war’s aftermath can be of interest as well.
3. An enormous amount of money is spent on political advertising during election campaigns, which usually leaves
neighbourhoods cluttered with flyers and posters. Is this a legitimate expense? Should parties be responsible for
cleaning up the litter after a campaign?
4. Choose a significant political scandal or event that has recently occurred in your country or region and discuss
how it began or occurred, how news of it was spread and how it affected individuals and society in the area.
WOMEN’S STUDIES
1. Many young women suffer from anorexia and bulimia. Learn all you can about these eating disorders, their causes
and their symptoms. How significant is the impact and what might improve the situation?
2. Investigate a major event or development in women’s history, such as the suffrage movement, the admission of
women to institutes of higher education, the Salem witch trials or the legalisation of birth control or abortion. What
were the immediate and lasting implications of the event or development?
3. Women still tend to earn less money than men for performing the same jobs and duties. Consider specific
examples as you discuss why this is the case and suggest how the problem might be realistically remedied.
4. Do beauty contests empower or objectify women? This topic might be shifted to focus instead on female
strippers, nude centrefolds or the women who act in pornographic films.
Tip: When writing about research of the kind outlined in the last topic here, do remember to be tactful and
professional when presenting evidence. The point is to persuade, not offend your readers.
If you are in the process of preparing an article for an academic or scientific journal, or planning one for the near
future, you may well be interested in a new book, Guide to Journal Publication, which is available on our Tips and
Advice on Publishing Research in Journals website.