Frustrated with Term Paper Topic

Veeshmack · 10-02-2009, 05:22 PM

i'm getting so frustrated trying to come up with a topic.
i've got a 12 page paper due in about 3 weeks, i wanna get a head start on it now so i'm not cramming to finish it around midterms, but i'm so fed up and frustrated with choosing a topic.

its for a kinesiology class. so it can essentially be anything related to ethics in sport, phys. ed, the human body, etc. i've tried so many topics, but it seems pretty hard to narrow something down to an option where i can still find 12 pages worth of info. i was originally going to do something along the lines of steroid use in pro sports, but i dont know what angle to take on it.

what are some suggestions you guys have for topics? or even ideas for how to come up with a good topic? im searchin google like crazy hoping to see somethin that sparks an interest.

Robboe · 10-02-2009, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veeshmack

i'm getting so frustrated trying to come up with a topic.
i've got a 12 page paper due in about 3 weeks, i wanna get a head start on it now so i'm not cramming to finish it around midterms, but i'm so fed up and frustrated with choosing a topic.

its for a kinesiology class. so it can essentially be anything related to ethics in sport, phys. ed, the human body, etc. i've tried so many topics, but it seems pretty hard to narrow something down to an option where i can still find 12 pages worth of info. i was originally going to do something along the lines of steroid use in pro sports, but i dont know what angle to take on it.

what are some suggestions you guys have for topics? or even ideas for how to come up with a good topic? im searchin google like crazy hoping to see somethin that sparks an interest.

Sports nutrition in sport

Gene doping in sport

Potential genetic defects in athletes making them ideal for their sports (e.g. partial myostatin defect for BBing [flex wheeler apparently], high cellular acidity threshold for swimming [michael phelps apparently], long-arms-to-body-ratio [deadlifters like andy bolton] etc.

Why certain aspects of sports performance are ignored (special equipment like bats, gloves, swimsuits etc) and yet steroid use is still prohibited.

**factotum** · 10-02-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robboe

Sports nutrition in sport

Gene doping in sport

Potential genetic defects in athletes making them ideal for their sports (e.g. partial myostatin defect for BBing [flex wheeler apparently], high cellular acidity threshold for swimming [michael phelps apparently], long-arms-to-body-ratio [deadlifters like andy bolton] etc.

Why certain aspects of sports performance are ignored (special equipment like bats, gloves, swimsuits etc) and yet steroid use is still prohibited.

I like the latter, but the use of specialized equipment is acceptable as it is not an affront to God. Whereas the use of steroids, gene doping, epo, etc lead to chemical anarchy in an attempt to augment one past their 'genetic potential'. Remember, God created you in his image and imbued you with certain characteristics/abilities. For you to go about and alter or deviate from his plan for you, well that is blasphemous. Of course any paper based on this topic will quickly exceed a dozen pages.

So, instead focus on baseball and why they allowed steroid use until the Balco fiasco and the subsequent senate hearings. You can analyze revenue and attendance records following the lockouts and the surge with the Sosa/McGwire HR race and other data sets.

Or if you are feeling particularly bold, ask PA how he feels about tainting sports history and becoming a pariah as a result. There's a number of interesting avenues you could pursue with PA.

Veeshmack · 10-03-2009, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robboe

Sports nutrition in sport

Gene doping in sport

Potential genetic defects in athletes making them ideal for their sports (e.g. partial myostatin defect for BBing [flex wheeler apparently], high cellular acidity threshold for swimming [michael phelps apparently], long-arms-to-body-ratio [deadlifters like andy bolton] etc.

Why certain aspects of sports performance are ignored (special equipment like bats, gloves, swimsuits etc) and yet steroid use is still prohibited.

Quote:

Originally Posted by factotum

I like the latter, but the use of specialized equipment is acceptable as it is not an affront to God. Whereas the use of steroids, gene doping, epo, etc lead to chemical anarchy in an attempt to augment one past their 'genetic potential'. Remember, God created you in his image and imbued you with certain characteristics/abilities. For you to go about and alter or deviate from his plan for you, well that is blasphemous. Of course any paper based on this topic will quickly exceed a dozen pages.

So, instead focus on baseball and why they allowed steroid use until the Balco fiasco and the subsequent senate hearings. You can analyze revenue and attendance records following the lockouts and the surge with the Sosa/McGwire HR race and other data sets.

Or if you are feeling particularly bold, ask PA how he feels about tainting sports history and becoming a pariah as a result. There's a number of interesting avenues you could pursue with PA.

thanks guys, i'm gonna take a deeper look into those and see what i can come up with

EMISGOD · 10-03-2009, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veeshmack

thanks guys, i'm gonna take a deeper look into those and see what i can come up with

I'd be very careful attempting to associate any ecclesiastical relevance or aspects into what largely sounds like a science paper...

Veeshmack · 10-03-2009, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMISGOD

I'd be very careful attempting to associate any ecclesiastical relevance or aspects into what largely sounds like a science paper...

i dont know what "ecclesiastical" means. seriously. dictionary.com did not assist me in putting it into context.

EMISGOD · 10-03-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veeshmack

i dont know what "ecclesiastical" means. seriously. dictionary.com did not assist me in putting it into context.

I was referring to the unfortunate religious reference posted by someone else prior in this thread...I don't think you should involve that in your paper even remotely.

Veeshmack · 10-03-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMISGOD

I was referring to the unfortunate religious reference posted by someone else prior in this thread...I don't think you should involve that in your paper even remotely.

oh right yes, i noticed that. i by no means intend to include any sort of religion or reference to any "powers" in this as it is a research paper. a) i dont know how i would end up with an article referencing god or anything, and b) i'm aware that thats a poor choice.

i generally am really good with guidelines and content, just topic had me baffled this time

stevenXD · 10-03-2009, 04:57 PM

Nutrition
or technology in sport (better tennis racquets, swimming gear, motion capture/sensor analysis for technique feedback etc)

They would be the easiest IMO to do as simply googled information would fill pages and there will be a lot of research available for both.

**factotum** · 10-03-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EMISGOD

I was referring to the unfortunate religious reference posted by someone else prior in this thread...I don't think you should involve that in your paper even remotely.

What's truly unfortunate is that we still enjoy and also have timely sentiments.

However, a salacious premise followed by religious rhetoric is guaranteed success. What we have to do is resonate with the prejudices of our audience.

But, he is correct, I really am a paragon of stupidity. And Em, you are quite delightful and dreadfully demoralizing.

Veeshmack · 10-03-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevenXD

Nutrition
or technology in sport (better tennis racquets, swimming gear, motion capture/sensor analysis for technique feedback etc)

They would be the easiest IMO to do as simply googled information would fill pages and there will be a lot of research available for both.

well i cant just "google" things. its a research paper, so it has to be on scholarly peer reviewed articles. thats the prob. i have tons of ideas, just that there isnt alot of articles i can use that relate enough to pull of 12 pages of info. if it was all me and any page on the net, easy, but i need legit sources

Drexx · 10-03-2009, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veeshmack

well i cant just "google" things. its a research paper, so it has to be on scholarly peer reviewed articles. thats the prob. i have tons of ideas, just that there isnt alot of articles i can use that relate enough to pull of 12 pages of info. if it was all me and any page on the net, easy, but i need legit sources

But googlerz got that thar google scholar bro

EMISGOD · 10-03-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by factotum

What's truly unfortunate is that we still enjoy and also have timely sentiments.

However, a salacious premise followed by religious rhetoric is guaranteed success. What we have to do is resonate with the prejudices of our audience.

But, he is correct, I really am a paragon of stupidity. And Em, you are quite delightful and dreadfully demoralizing.

See my username. I don't need to be in everyone's papers.

stevenXD · 10-04-2009, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veeshmack

well i cant just "google" things. its a research paper, so it has to be on scholarly peer reviewed articles. thats the prob. i have tons of ideas, just that there isnt alot of articles i can use that relate enough to pull of 12 pages of info. if it was all me and any page on the net, easy, but i need legit sources

Sports journals, pubmed and research from university repositories e.g. what type of football boot is best (material, studs), diet and VO2 max.

Can you not use a website that documents the changes over time by just quoting pieces from it followed up with a study to evidence what's said.

Nutrition and performance should yield the most studies.

I meant use google to find something you didn't know and look into it, then find research for that area and expand on it not simply copy and paste on first glance.

Rob Awesome · 10-04-2009, 11:44 AM

First off... in the field of Kinesiology you need to narrow down what interests you most.

Motor Control / Neuroscience... neuroendocrinology?
Metabolism?
Exercise Physiology?
Biomechanics / Physics?
Muscle Physiology?
Biochemical aspects of human physiology or metabolism?
Sports Performance from an ex phys... a metabolic or biomechanist perspective?
Sports Rehab / PT?

Once you've narrowed a field in Kin... try to be more specific to your interests...

ie, for me... I have a particular interest in metabolism, physiology and performance...

well, ok. What about it? Well... how about glucose metabolism. Ok, nice. It just so happened there was an upcoming study in a clinical population with prediabetes... interesting... well what about them... ??? etc, etc...

ask questions to what interests you. Once you've narrowed it down, you'll find it easier to find a topic. Then pubmed / google scholar / Web of Science / Science Direct can be your best friends. There's tons of information out there. Try secondary references (eg text books) that can help you focus an idea for a topic... and see where they reference (primary references)... then search those primary references. If you're in pubmed, once on the peer reviewed paper of choice there is a link in the upper right hand corner that reads 'related articles'... click it. It may help a lot.

good luck

Veeshmack · 10-04-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Awesome

First off... in the field of Kinesiology you need to narrow down what interests you most.

Motor Control / Neuroscience... neuroendocrinology?
Metabolism?
Exercise Physiology?
Biomechanics / Physics?
Muscle Physiology?
Biochemical aspects of human physiology or metabolism?
Sports Performance from an ex phys... a metabolic or biomechanist perspective?
Sports Rehab / PT?

Once you've narrowed a field in Kin... try to be more specific to your interests...

ie, for me... I have a particular interest in metabolism, physiology and performance...

well, ok. What about it? Well... how about glucose metabolism. Ok, nice. It just so happened there was an upcoming study in a clinical population with prediabetes... interesting... well what about them... ??? etc, etc...

ask questions to what interests you. Once you've narrowed it down, you'll find it easier to find a topic. Then pubmed / google scholar / Web of Science / Science Direct can be your best friends. There's tons of information out there. Try secondary references (eg text books) that can help you focus an idea for a topic... and see where they reference (primary references)... then search those primary references. If you're in pubmed, once on the peer reviewed paper of choice there is a link in the upper right hand corner that reads 'related articles'... click it. It may help a lot.

good luck

thanks. that helps alot. my main focus is sports rehab/PT.
the main issue i was having with narrowing on a topic was trying to take an "ethical" angle in my topic. thats the key to my assignemtn, it has to be in relation to ethics.

Rob Awesome · 10-06-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veeshmack

thanks. that helps alot. my main focus is sports rehab/PT.
the main issue i was having with narrowing on a topic was trying to take an "ethical" angle in my topic. thats the key to my assignemtn, it has to be in relation to ethics.

if you have any specific questions - pm me and i'll shoot you my department e-mail and we can converse there...