Need help with English research paper! Very limited topics to choose from!?

Question

My English Composition2 professor would like us to use one source from the text and additional outside sources for our research. The readings from the text are discussions on shopping malls, obedience, and fairy tales. I'm sure you can feel my pain! This paper can express an original opinion on an issue, articulate a problem with fresh insights, or promote a solution to a problem. I would appreciate any suggestions!! Thank you so much!!

Answer 1

Your teacher really wants to read papers on shopping malls, obedience, and fairy tales? Ugh! Using these limited topics, think of a problem that needs to be solved. That way you can consider causes and effects, look at conflicting opinions (a problem pretty much always generates some controversy), and consider possible solutions. I found that focusing on a problem that needs to be solved tends to generate the best research papers.

So what are some problems related to these topics?
Shopping Malls: The problem of the large number of unsupervised teens who hang out and the accompanying violence and other safety issues.
Obedience: The problem of how we go about training our kids to be obedient--there are lots of conflicting opinions on this. The problem of a lack of obedience (and respect for authority) and how that affects society.
Fairy Tales: The problem of the power that they have to shape what young women believe about what romantic love is and what young men believe it is to be the rescuer and the hero.

I'll bet you can come up with some better ideas if you give it some thought (these are my 2-minute ideas). I hope that helps to get you started.

Answer 2

I would recommend obedience. You can discuss the difference between obedience and social mores. Or you can go into how people learn obedience, as children and growing up through the society in which they live. Then, compare that society with that of a drastically different one. For example, the causes for obedience in Sweden versus the causes of obedience in Thailand.

Is this a thesis or?
Because if it is a thesis, make sure the statement expresses one main idea. Readers need to be able to see that your paper has one main point. If your thesis expresses more than one idea, then you might confuse readers bout the subject of your paper.

Next, a strong thesis statement takes some sort of stand. Ok so remember that your thesis needs to show your conclusions about a subject. AND the thesis takes a stand. It should be possible for reasonable people to disagree on the subject you're exploring in your paper. Because a good thesis indicates your point of view on this subject, it should justify discussion of the topic.

Ok so for example...
"Companies need to exploit the marketing potential of the Internet, and web pages can provide both advertising and customer support."
So this statement is weak because a reader wouldn't be able to decide if the paper is about marketing on the Internet or web pages. So, a better way of putting it...
"Because the Internet is filled with tremendous marketing potential, companies should exploit this potential by using web pages that offer both advertising and customer support.

This is Strong thesis statement because it shows the relationship between two ideas. A GREAT many clear and engaging thesis statements contain words like because, since, so, although, unless, and however.

A strong thesis statement is also specific. It will show your reader exactly what your paper will be about. Also, by making it specific it will help restrict your paper to a manageable subject.


I would write, "Religion, of any kind, is the key component that teaches and enforces obedience worldwide."
And then argue your point throughout the paper with clear and cited examples.

Answer 3

You could do a cause-and-effect paper on the relationship between the consumer culture and the proliferation of shopping malls... shopping as recreation...the shopaholic...credit card debt...oh my, the list goes on and on. Americans now own so much stuffe that they have to rent storage space to keep it all.

There's been a movement to lighten up fairy tales so that we don't frighten children. Hello? Children love to be frightened! My whole generation grew up on scary fairy tales and we were none the worse for it (because what was REALLY scary was the threat of mutually assured thermonuclear destruction during the fifties). It's possible that fairy tales prepare kids for some of the real-life fears they will encounter later. There's plenty of source material available on this one! Good luck!

Answer 4

I'd take fairy tales and discuss the opinion that the inherent themes and heavy handed moralistic tone fo them could be harmful for a child, in terms of scaring them about their lives, or if they will get eaten by a wolf, rather than simplt being entertainment.

Doesn't need to be your opinion really in order to make it a good discussion does it ?

Answer 5

I'd say go with obedience.

We are always try to be obedient in some way in our lives, as a child to our parents, as we grow older towards society and law and even to our selves and our true wishes.

I'm sure you can find plenty of material for this anywhere.

Answer 6

doing a paper on consumer culture would be interesting. the other day i just heard this on the news that there are a lot of ppl shop way too much and go into debt, yet they can't help themselves. i think they might have a term for this but i can't remember. it might be interesting to write a paper about it.

good luck!

Answer 7

did you know that the original fairy tales did not have a happy ending, they were to horrible that society changed the endings so they would be suitable for children

Answer 8

Malls! Do a paper on the evolution of our consumer culture.