Before you select a topic, be sure you understand the assignment requirements. Persuasive paper? Informative paper? Two pages or ten? These are all factors that will impact your topic choice.
Haven't chosen a topic yet?
Is your search burying you in information, or, are you struggling to find enough information? Either is a sign that your topic needs refining.
Narrow a topic: It is common for novice writers to select topics that are too broad with too much information to digest. To remedy, consider narrowing your topic by:
Who, What, When, Where, or Why.
Rather than the topic homelessness, select homelessness in rural America. Rather than the topic depression, select depression in middle school children.
Broaden a topic: Can't find enough information on home schooling in Plymouth, Wisconsin, try home schooling in Sheboygan County. Still now enough information, try home schooling in Wisconsin.
Additional information on constructing a research paper can be found in the library's Research 101 LibGuide.