Topic Selection Explanation Tips For this course, you'll be writing one final paper to highlight the multiplicity of information that you have learned while at Grantham. As part of your degree plan, you were asked to concentrate in several areas. When writing your paper, your paper must combine two disciplines. These disciplines may be in courses that you have taken as an elective or actual concentrations you've completed. Unless you have a compelling argument for the professor, your disciplines must come from the following list:

Psychology Sociology Science Government History Computer Science Business Literature Economics Criminal Justice

In developing the consideration of your topic, first of all, think of something you are passionate about. Is it sports? Is it the criminal mind? Is it education? Whatever is passionate for you is what you should be writing your paper about. The second task you have is to take the topic you want to write about - and find two different disciplines to interweave it through to make a fantastic paper.

For instance, as a psychology professor, I am interested in relationships; specifically - why do people get divorced? When considering this paper, I might want to interweave Science and Psychology - and write a paper about "The effects of divorce on the mind and body." Let's say I am interested in this divorce topic, but government is something I am very interested in as well. I might change my topic to "The ramifications of divorce within the legal system and Government's inability to address the problem." (Long titles are fine!)

Needless to say - the critical thinking aspect of this course begins with this assignment. You are tasked with not only coming up with a topic, but being able to creatively intertwine it through your paper all semester long.

Extended Directions: On Assignment 1.1, you are to come up with three different topic ideas. It could be like I did above, where you take divorce and interweave it through different disciplines (Psychology and Science, Psychology and Government, Psychology and Criminal Justice (as a third?)). It could be three completely unrelated topics. As part of the assignment, you are to:

List the two disciplines you are intertwining (Discipline 1: XXXXXX, Discipline 2: XXXXXX) Give the title for the topic of the paper Write about 100 words detailing what you would accomplish in this paper

Although I will ultimately let you choose the paper topic you want, I will give you my opinions while understanding the different research that you are able to find. Your paper topic must be from approved disciplines and should be able to be exclusively researched using peer reviewed literature. If the primary research will come from the web, it will not be allowed.

As part of the work for the week, you will also upload your assignment to the discussion board for the week. You are then to comment on two other students and give your opinion to the other students which of their topics you think would be best for them to do. Hopefully you will get feedback from other students as well to craft your topic selection before submitting it to the professor. Ultimately, the decision lies with the student but perhaps you have knowledge on something that you can share in a collaborative effort with your fellow students. You will be graded on the assignment (as submitted to the weekly dropbox) and your participation with other students in giving ideas for the paper assignment.