Research Paper Topics: Ideas To Get You Started

In high school and college you will spend a lot of time writing research papers. While it is important to write a good one and get a good grade, it is equally important to find a good topic. The topic needs to be more than just something you think you can write about. It also needs to have plenty of material to research, as well as be broad enough that if you need extra words to meet the criteria, you can niche down and really dig into something more exact.

First and foremost, you need to choose a research topic that meets the criteria of the class that you're in. If you're in a government class and this paper is about healthcare, you may not want to choose to write about LGBT issues, religion, or politics. So your first step is to find out exactly what your teacher is looking for and make sure that the topic you decide on fits within their requirements.

You want to start off with a broad topic, such as government. There is plenty of information about the government out there that you shouldn't have an issue choosing a more defined niche. There are issues regarding immigration, election procedure, the economy, our environment, foreign policy, and so much more. If you choose something with a broad enough base, you'll be able to branch off into a series of smaller issues or topics.

While the internet has a wealth of information about things you've probably never even heard of, you don't want to get too into your niche. While going down a rabbit hole can lead to some interesting questions and concerns that you could bring up in your paper, if you cannot find enough information about a specific topic than you may find yourself not being able to write enough. This could be detailed enough or even enough in terms of word count, which many classes require. Don't be afraid to dive into extremely niche-related topics, but perhaps don't make that the focus of your paper unless you know you can find enough material to help you write it.

Last, but certainly not least, is making sure that the topic you're choosing is something you're at least vaguely interested in. While some classes may not be your favorite or they ask you to write research papers about topics you're not particularly invested in, do not blatantly choose something you can't find some kind of interest in. You will write better papers with more passion when you've chosen something you're interested in. The reader will also be able to tell that you care about what you've chosen to write about!

• Abortion -- You can write about your stance on abortion or how you feel about the government penalizing organizations that provide care and referal to family planning clinics
• Planned Parenthood Funding -- Should the government continue to fund Planned Parenthood?
• Government Mandates -- The issue has arisen that certain health insurance providers do not wish to provide free birth control. Do you agree or disagree with that choice?
• Gender Identity -- There's a lot of discrimination against those who do not identify with their assigned at birth gender. Do you believe that gender identity should be added to anti-discrimination laws?
• Religion Freedom Act -- Multiple businesses have been called out for denying to serve customers who's requests conflict with their religious beliefs. Should this be allowed? When so many businesses say that they can refuse service at will, how can this policy be enforced?
• Women In Combat -- In 1948 a law was passed to allow women in the military permanently. However, they were not allowed in combat. Now that the times are changing it has been determined that they should be allowed to be in combat roles. Do you agree? What challenges might the military face if they do not allow women in combat?
• Euthanasia -- Terminally ill patients often go through a lot of pain and heartache during the remainder of their lives. Should they be allowed to end their lives with assisted suicide? Should nurses, doctors, or those who assist in this process be cleared of any responsibility?
• Drinking Age -- It has been an ongoing question over the past few years. Should the United States lower the legal drinking age to 18? What repercussions might people face if the drinking age is lowered? What is the reasoning for keep it at 21?
• Spanking -- Should spanking your children be outlawed? Does it truly cause emotional abuse? How does that jive with the notion that previous generations were spanked and turned out just fine? What other behavior modification tools might you use instead?

Other Social Issues

• LGBT Adoption Rights
• Gay Marriage
• Marital Rape
• Campus Sexual Assault
• Gender Workplace Diversity
• Death Penalty
• Safe Spaces and Trigger Warnings
• First Amendment Rights
• Abstinence Programs
• Beauty Contests
• Feminism
• American Literacy
• Wage Gap
• Substance Abuse

• Border Wall -- When Donald Trump came into office, it was clear that he was advocating for a wall at the border. Do you agree with his choice or do you feel that it is excessive?
• Immigration Ban -- Should there be a temporary ban on immigration into the United States? Is this a real issue that the United States is facing?
• Healthcare -- With so many of the United States' own people finding healthcare hard to afford without government subsidization, should we be allowing immigrants to also have the option to receive government subsidization?
• Assimilation -- Should immigrants be required to learn English to live here? With many of the Americans living here today unable to pass the citizenship test, is it okay to require immigrants to do so?
• Immigrant Children -- Should they be separated from their parents?
• Immigration Laws -- How do the US laws compare to the immigration laws of other countries? Where can the US improve? Where can other countries improve?

Other Immigration Issues

• Muslim Immigration Ban
• Immigrants Receiving In-State Tuition
• Deporting Criminal Immigrants
• Sanctuary Cities
• Illegal Immigrant Detainment
• Immigrant Labor
• Border Security
• Skilled Immigrants
• Dual Citizenship
• Immigrant Basics

• Drug Price Regulation -- The high cost of life saving drugs is keeping people from getting better. Should the government regulate these prices? What are the alternatives for people who can no longer afford the drugs they need to stay alive?
• Single-Payer Healthcare -- A healthcare system that is financed by taxes, not necessarily employers or qualified individuals. Do you support it? What are the benefits? Why would it be hazardous to introduce to the United States?
• Pre-Existing Conditions -- Should a healthcare provider be allowed to turn down an applicant simply because they have a pre-existing condition?
• Mental Health -- With the growing rate of mental illness, should the government increase funding for research and treatment? What are some alternatives?
• Affordable Care Act -- Insurers in markets that are ACA-compliant are required to charge the same rates regardless of pre-existing conditions or gender. What was the financial impact of this act? Did it increase the number of people covered by healthcare? What was the cost for those who could still not afford healthcare after the Affordable Care Act was passed?
• Marijuana -- Marijuana has been legalized to some extent in over half of the United States. Do you support the legalization in the other half of the states? What is the impact of legalized marijuana for recreational use versus medical use?
• Drug Safe Havens -- Those who are addicted to illegal drugs do not always do them safely. Should there be safe havens for those addicted to substances to do them under supervision? Is drug abuse a criminal issue or a health issue? Would this counter overdose rates?

• Equal Pay
• Paid Sick Leave
• Welfare Drug Testing
• Taxes
• Minimum Wage
• Corporate Tax
• Corporate Mega Mergers
• Government Spending
• Labor Unions
• Overtime Pay
• Estate Tax
• Property Taxes
• Offshore Banking
• Government Pensions
• Bitcoin

• Does franchising make it easier to run a business?
• The Great Depression vs. The Great Recession
• Pros and Cons of Outsourcing Services
• Is it unethical to pay underdeveloped countries cheap wages?
• Why are women still earning less than men in the workplace for doing the same job?
• Are workaholics real? Do workaholics have a higher productivity rate? Should there be a maxium number of hours that an employee can work?

• No government support versus parents who have to pay for multiple children to go to college.
• Should standardized tests be the metric by which we grade a teacher's competence or a student's ability to learn?
• Does offering tenure increase or decrease the quality of teaching?
• Should college athletes be paid?
• Is the No Child Left Behind act working? What was the impact when it was first passed?
• Should students be required to say the Pledge of Allegiance at school? Should they say "under God" if they do?
• E-Learning vs. Traditional Learning
• Pros and Cons of School Uniforms

• What are the limitations of the media? Are newspapers falling by the wayside? Is social media marketing the only direction in which advertising can continue in a functional manner?
• Is marketing to children ethical?
• Should sexual innuendos in marketing be allowed? What companies have faced backlash for their marketing content being too sexually charged?
• Controversial political ads and the public response.
• Where are apps and websites getting their marketing information? Why are they showing you ads for a product you searched on a different website? Where does this type of targeting draw the line?

There are plenty of sources out there for you to find a good research topic. This could include books at your local library, conversations that come up in your daily life, things you've always been curious about, other websites, and more. If none of these topics interested you, then check out the links below for more ideas.