The document provides advice on brainstorming topics for a research paper. It recommends silencing the inner critic by limiting brainstorming time to 20 minutes and recording ideas on sticky notes without overthinking. The document also suggests looking to the library for inspiration, noting they have a variety of magazines on different topics from news to science to photography as well as academic databases. The assignment is to produce evidence of brainstorming, summarize a current magazine article on an interesting topic, and summarize a database article on another topic.

1. Topic Brainstorming

2. I’ve got no ideas for my research paper.

3. How much brainstorming have you done?

4. Like, tons

5. Finding an idea is one of the hardest parts of the research process. Let me give you some advice.

6. Advice #1 Turn off your inner critic

7. The Brain has two hemispheres Right brain functions Thought Intuition Creativity Art & Music Left brain functions Analytic Thought Logic Language Science & Math

8. The Right Brain keeps you from turning into Spock Right brain functions Thought Intuition Creativity Art & Music

9. The Left Brain keeps you from turning into a Space Hippie Left brain functions Analytic Thought Logic Language Science & Math

10. To generate good ideas, you must silence your inner critic Right brain functions Thought Intuition Creativity Art & Music Left brain functions That ideas is dumb. It will never work.

11. And let your creative side play Right brain functions Left brain functions This is fun!

12. How do I do that?

13. Limit your time! Don’t give your brain time to criticize. Give yourself 20 minutes to come up 50 ideas.

14. Record your ideas on sticky notes

15. IDEA 1 IDEA 3 IDEA 2 IDEA 4 Organize them later

16. Or mind maps! Stay away from the computer - it will slow you down

17. Collaborate with others

18. In five years, what do I hope to have accomplished? Make lists of interests, hobbies, goals, concerns What do I want to do better? What do I want to learn more about? What experiences do I want to have? What controversial issues do I feel strongly about? What professions am I interested in? What problems do I want to see solved? What organizations or groups do I admire? Where would I like to travel?

19. Advice #2 Look for inspiration elsewhere

20. Where?

21. The library of course!

22. LIBRARY RESOURCES Reference books Magazines Databases

23. LIBRARY RESOURCES Magazines

24. The library has a great collection of magazines to inspire you. Just take a look at some of these samples!

25. The Week Everything that happened nationally and around the world last week: News, Opinion, Science, Business, the Arts.

29. National Geographic : Geography, Popular Science, History, Culture, Current Events, Photography.

33. Wired : Technology & how it affects everything – news, everyday life, the environment, the arts, entertainment, and so on.

37. Smithsonian : “ A monthly magazine created for modern, well-rounded individuals with diverse interests.” Arts, History, Sciences, Popular Culture.

42. Discover : Science for a general audience. Science news, health, medicine, brain science, science in popular culture.

45. Popular Science : Science & Technology for the general reader.

49. Psychology Today

53. New Scientist : Emerging research from a variety of fields, for scientists and the general public.

57. Scientific American Mind : Psychology, Neuroscience, and Related Fields.

60. Yes!: Supports people’s active engagement in building a just and sustainable world.

62. Ode : For intelligent optimists – news about people and ideas that are changing the world for the better. Also: How to live a more thoughtful life.

66. Newsweek : Second biggest news magazine in the country: News, Editorials, Quotes, Political Cartoons, National & International Coverage

70. Time : Biggest news magazine in the country. Current events of all sorts.

74. Atlantic : Cultural commentary, news in depth.

76. Aperture : Photojournalism magazine

79. Mental Floss : Celebrates people who are curious; presents facts and trivia in an interesting way.

83. LIBRARY RESOURCES Databases

100. Your assignment: 1. Evidence of brainstorming (sticky notes, mind map, list) 2. One CURRENT magazine article on an interesting topic 3. One article from the database on an interesting topic