Finding a topic for a research paper might be the most difficult element of the process. It's easy to become overwhelmed when faced with a field packed with options. Before you know it, you'll be writing new papers on topics that no longer interest you. The best way to find a topic is by thinking about something you want to write about. If you're having trouble coming up with ideas, consider what interests you and your friends, or what problems you see in your community. The more interested you are in your topic, the better off you will be. There are many ways to use academic research as source material for essays, including: Looking at different perspectives on an issue. All issues have multiple sides with different views on them. By exploring these different points of view, you can give your own opinion on the subject matter without being biased. Understanding how other people have dealt with similar problems. If you read about successful cases, you can learn from their approaches and apply this knowledge to your own situation. Gaining insight into how others think. Academic research offers unique opportunities to learn about different theories from different points of view. This allows you to understand issues more deeply than if you were to judge them solely based on first impressions.