Honours Thesis Course IDP 4U1

TOPIC SELECTION

1. Choosing Your Topic

When choosing a topic the key is finding a subject in which YOU are interested! Students should purse a topic or issue in one of the following courses previously studied:

· CPW4U: Canadian and World Politics

· CHY4U: World History – The West and the World

· CIA4U: Economic Issues; CGW4U: Canadian and World Issues

· HSB4M: Challenge and change in Society.

It is important to take the time to select your topic. If you don’t like your subject you will not be motivated to study it.  Most importantly, you must look forward to doing the research.  

Characteristics of a Good Topic:

ü Topic is interesting

ü Topic is researchable

ü Topic is significant

ü Topic is manageable

ü Topic is ethical and appropriate

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Topic Choice Approval Name: _______________________

State your proposed topic.  This topic is not binding; you may change it if you find there isn’t enough information for your research.  If your topic is too broad, narrow the topic into a more specific area(s) that you intend to research.

 TEACHER APPROVAL: ______________________________________________

IDP 4U1 Honours Thesis Name:____________________

STEP 1: TOPIC SELECTION

Achievement: Knowledge / Application TOTAL: / 10 marks

Once your topic has been approved, complete the following questions on a separate piece of paper based on your topic. The selection here is not exclusive, but is offered as a starting point towards completing the thesis paper.

1. What is your topic? Give a brief overview.

2. Give two reasons why you selected this topic.

3. To what specific course(s) does your topic relate? Explain.

4. Determine whether the primary focus of the issue is cultural, resource, economic, environmental or political. Explain your decision.

5. Recreate the following chart on a separate piece of paper. Using the following “K-W-L Organizer”, recall what you already know about your topic, organize any new ideas, ask questions and record your learning.

K: What I Know about the Topic

W: What I want to Know about the Topic

L: What I have Learned about the Topic from Preliminary Reading / Courses Studied

6. Based on your prior knowledge and studies, what are three important themes or issues pertinent to this topic? Outline and explain.

7. Create TWO controversial questions about the topic that your thesis paper may answer.

8. Using the “Evaluating Internet Resources Criteria” found at the following website: http://www.library.ubc.ca/home/evaluating/Easyprint.html find 3 resources on your topic on the web that fit the criteria of a valid Internet resource. List these sites in proper MLA format.