How do I find a good topic?  What keywords should I use to search for my topic?  How do I create a thesis statement from that topic?

Check out the links and videos on this page to find answers to these research questions.

• Always read over the research assignment and consult the instructor when deciding upon a topic. 
• Consider what type of CJ career you would like and find a topic related to that.
• Think about interesting CJ stories you have seen in the news lately.
• Bounce topic ideas off fellow CJ students.

Power Tip: The National Criminal Justice Reference Service has a Thesaurus Term Search that can help you find the best keywords to search with for a CJ topic.  Once you find the right CJ jargon, you're ready to start typing those keywords into library databases!

Grab some paper and a pencil--watch this video and you'll have some topic ideas in minutes!

• Is your thesis statement one sentence?
• Is it clear what your position is on the topic?
• Does it appear early on in the paper?
• Does it summarize everything in your paper?
• Is it based on evidence (sources)?