Often in the research process, it is a lonely journey. This means you're doing it by yourself, but with the guidance of your professor and/or librarian. According to WikiHow: Brainstorm-Alone, here are some tips to successfully brainstorm your research topic on your own:
If you're having trouble selecting a research topic, peruse the following databases for possible topics.
CQ Researcher explores a single "hot" issue each week, ranging from social and teen issues to environment, health, education, and science.
Issues and Controversies (Facts on File) offers a wealth of current topics research information, including pro/con discussions of hot issues,
Access World News (Newsbank) offers current, diverse global perspectives on topics related to controversial issues, the environment, health, education, science, the arts, literature, business, economics, criminal justice, and from a variety of current and retrospective news media including newspapers, newswires, broadcast transcripts, blogs, periodicals, videos and web-only modules.
Too Broad:
A topic is too broad when you find that you have too many different ideas or resources about that topic. While you want to start the writing process with as many ideas as possible, you will want to narrow your focus at some point so that you aren't attempting to do too much in one essay.
Here are ways to make your result list less in quantity, but still high in relevence:
Too Narrow:
A topic is too narrow if you can't find any information about it. Though student writers most often face the challenge of limiting a topic that is too broad, they occasionally have to recognize that they have chosen a topic that is too narrow or that they have narrowed a workable topic too much. If your topic is so narrowed and focused, it can become too academic or pedantic. If your topic is too narrow, try making it broader by asking yourself related questions.
Information found at the Greenlease Library, Rockhurst University Library, LibGuide.