what is a good topic sentence for a research paper on hazing that is not so broad

In order to take a broad topic, like hazing, and make it into a focused topic for a research paper, there are a few brainstorming techniques you can use. The first technique is clustering -- also called mapping, webbing, or free association. This technique helps you to understand what you already know about the topic and organize your thoughts.

To begin, write the word "hazing" on a sheet of paper. Then, write a list of...

In order to take a broad topic, like hazing, and make it into a focused topic for a research paper, there are a few brainstorming techniques you can use. The first technique is clustering -- also called mapping, webbing, or free association. This technique helps you to understand what you already know about the topic and organize your thoughts.

To begin, write the word "hazing" on a sheet of paper. Then, write a list of five words that come to your mind when you think of hazing. For this example, let's say you list terms like: college, Greek life, peer pressure, alcohol, expulsion. Which of these five words is most interesting to you, or would be most interesting to your reader? Choose only one. Take the word or phrase that most interests you and make a list for it. Again, choose the terms that are most interesting to you. Let's say you selected peer pressure as the term most interesting to you, under which you list the words: tribe, fun, homesick. Now you have a collection of ideas around the topic of hazing as it relates to peer pressure.

Now, take your small collection of terms and perform some preliminary research, to see what other reputable sources have to say. Preliminary research will help you to see if you are on the right track with your topic. If reputable sources have something to say about your search terms, you are likely on the right track and will be able to find sources to back up your thesis. For example, if you search "hazing + peer pressure + homesick," several articles come up that discuss how hazing is often a result of trying to fit in on a new campus (if you have trouble finding any reputable sources that relate to your topic, go back to your first word map and choose a new term).

After you've decided which terms relating to hazing interest you most and you have seen the research available about those terms, start to draft a topic sentence that incorporates those terms and your own point of view. The topic can be something simple, like: "Research suggests there is a strong link between homesickness and becoming the victim of hazing," or you can narrow the topic even more, like: "The correlation of reported homesickness in college freshmen and becoming a victim of hazing appears directly proportional to the size of campus."