How good is my topic?

Check off  each item once you are confident that you have considered it in full and are satisfied
that your title meets that criterion.

1	■ The topic inspires and interests me.
2	■ I already know something about the
subject.
3	■ I have reasonable grounds for believing that I can sustain my interest
in this topic for the duration of the
research project.
4	■ I have a reasonable idea about what my thesis/research hypothesis is likely
to be.
5	■ I have a good idea how I can turn this
into a sensible research proposal (see
page 101).
6	■ It will be evident that the proposed
research falls into an area that would be recognised as belonging to my subject discipline.
7	■ My supervisor or other tutors on the
course would be suitably expert in the
subject to advise me on it.
8	■ It fits the brief set by my course.
9	■ It enables me to meet the marking
criteria used for the award of high
marks.
10	■ I can see where I will be able to make an original contribution to the field.
11	■ It offers a different angle, or uses
different data, from that used in
previous research.
12	■ I can provide a clear and convincing
rationale for studying this topic.
13	■ There is a pre-existing body of
research literature on the topic that I
can draw upon.
14	
■ There is an established theoretical
framework to which I can refer.
15	■ There are established methods that I
can draw upon.
16	■ It provides challenge appropriate to
this level of study.
17	■ The data/information I need will be
reasonably straightforward to collate.
18	■ The information I need is available in the public domain (if relevant).
19	■ The topic lends itself to interesting
argument and debate.
20	■ I could do justice to the topic within
the given word limit.
21	■ I could do justice to the topic within
the given time limit.
22	■ I have a good title in mind (see below).
Evaluating my title: checklist
Strengths of my proposed title are
1	■ It is clear, so the reader is in no doubt
what my research is about.
2	■ It is specific: it sets out what the
parameters of research will be – it has
defined boundaries.
3	■ It fits the material covered by the project.
4	■ It contains the question, implicitly
or explicitly, that my research will address.
5	■ It is precise: it isn’t over fanciful or
wordy.
6	■ Its phrasing is typical of my discipline.
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