Research Strategies for Seminar Papers

This guide provides a basic outline for researching a seminar paper.

STEP 1: Select A Topic (Preliminary and Exploratory Research)

You will select a paper topic in consultation with your professor. However, you will likely need to do preliminary or exploratory research to find a topic that meets the requirements.

The criteria for a topic can include but are not limited to, timeliness, uniqueness, historical importance, or a lack of existing discussion or research. Preliminary and exploratory research assists in ascertaining if the topic you're considering meets the criteria and is an integral tool in choosing a topic efficiently. 

The resources listed below are particularly helpful for this process.  These are select resources, not a comprehensive list; consult other resources or research guides for additional suggestions.
 

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News & Current Awareness: Popular News


Specific Practice Areas

Additional Resources on Topic Selection