Controversial -- A topic that has two sides that can be argued or debated. This could include but is not limited to abortion, gun control, euthenasia (mercy killing), welfare reform, corporal punishment, death penalty, and affirmative action. Usually, the writer of the paper will take one side of the issue and support it.

Compare and Contrast -- a paper that requires two things (items, stories, people, etc.) to be discussed. You would show how they are same (compare) and how they are different (contrast).

Analysis -- this would look into the deeper meaning, motives and ideas behind an event, time, person or work.

You should try to pick a topic that is of interest to you AND has enough sources that you can write your paper. If you can not think of anything that interests you, at least pick something with enough information.

Fatima knows she needs to do a controversial topic and wants to do abortion, but that is a very big topic and she needs to trim it down.

If she makes the topic too narrow, she won't be able to get enough information. The longer the paper, the more information she will need. Fatima has an idea of what she wants to do, but is going to stay flexible. She may find more information on one area than another.

She remembers hearing some people arguing about "partial-birth" abortions and decides she would like to learn more about this topic. Now she needs to decide what information she need.