Research Paper: 50 Topic Ideas


While in college, you’ll probably write a lot of essays and research papers, so it’s really important that you become a master of choosing the perfect research paper topic. Don’t expect that all topics will be interesting and easy to write, but it’s important that you choose topics for which you can find enough research material. Luckily, University of Illinois Online Library published a list of 50 topics to get you started.

Business Essays:

  • White collar crime
  • Sweatshops
  • Outsourcing
  • Online retail
  • Glass ceiling
  • E-business
  • Cyber-security

Crime & Law Essays:

  • Three Strikes Law
  • Sexual harassment
  • Sex crimes
  • Serial killers
  • Roe vs. Wade
  • Prisons and prisoners
  • Police brutality
  • Patriot Act
  • Mandatory Minimum sentencing
  • Insanity defense
  • Hate crimes
  • Gun control
  • Drug legalization
  • Drinking age, legal
  • Civil rights
  • Capital punishment
  • Campus violence
  • Assisted suicide
  • Animal rights
  • Acquaintance rape

Education Essays:

  • Standardized tests
  • Sex education
  • School vouchers
  • Prayer in schools
  • Plagiarism
  • No Child Left Behind
  • Literacy in America
  • Learning disabilities
  • Intelligence tests
  • Home schooling
  • Hazing
  • Greek letter societies
  • Grade inflation
  • Education and funding
  • Distance education
  • Diploma mills
  • College tuition planning
  • College athletes
  • College admission policies
  • Charter schools
  • Attention deficit disorder

Environmental Essays:

  • Wildlife conservation
  • Soil pollution
  • Smog
  • Recycling
  • Radioactive waste disposal
  • Population control
  • Pollution
  • Pesticides
  • Oil spills
  • Nuclear energy
  • Marine pollution
  • Landfills
  • Greenhouse effect
  • Global warming
  • Energy
  • Endangered species
  • Deforestation
  • Conservation
  • Attention deficit disorder
  • Alternative fuel/hybrid vehicles
  • Acid rain

Health Essays:

  • Weight loss surgery
  • Vegetarianism
  • Teen pregnancy
  • Stem cell research
  • Smoking
  • Sleep
  • Prescription drugs
  • Plastic surgery
  • Organic foods
  • Obesity
  • Medicaid, Medicare reform
  • In vitro fertilization
  • HIV infection
  • Heart disease
  • Fast food
  • Fad diets
  • Exercise and fitness
  • Eating Disorders (Bulimia, Anorexia)
  • Dyslexia
  • Drug abuse
  • Dietary supplements
  • Depression
  • Cancer
  • Birth control
  • Autism
  • Attention deficit disorder
  • Artificial insemination
  • Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Alternative medicine
  • AIDS
  • AbortionAbortion

Media & Communications Essays:

  • Television violence
  • Talk radio
  • Stereotypes
  • Reality television
  • Portrayal of women
  • Political correctness
  • Minorities in mass media
  • Media conglomerates, ownership
  • Media bias
  • Materialism
  • Freedom of speech
  • Copyright Law
  • Children’s programming and advertising
  • Censorship
  • Body image

Social Issues Essays:

  • Welfare
  • Textbook biases
  • Test biases
  • Suicide
  • Suffrage
  • Reverse discrimination
  • Race relations
  • Poverty
  • Interracial marriage
  • Identity theft
  • Homelessness
  • Genetic screening
  • Gender discrimination
  • Gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender
  • Gay parenting
  • Gang identity
  • Gambling, online gaming
  • Employee rights
  • Discrimination in education
  • Child rearing
  • Child abuse
  • Birth control
  • Apartheid
  • Airline safety, security
  • AIDS
  • Affirmative Action programs
  • Adoption
  • Abortion

That’s it! Now, all you need to do is to write a good research paper and present it. Good luck!

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