Research Topic Brainstorm

• One clear claim OR a focused research question
• NCES (2024) statistic with page/section or figure/table
• One additional credible source (database article, policy report, reputable news)
• Your reasoning (explain how evidence connects to your idea)
• One limitation or alternative explanation
• One next step to move your research forward
• One targeted question for peers

Choose ONE: Claim OR Research Question (Templates)

Option A (Research Question):

How does [factor] affect [outcome] for [first-gen group] at [location/time]?

Option B (Claim):

First-generation students are more likely to [experience/face] because [reason], especially when [context].

1. C Claim (or Research Question)
2. State a tentative claim or one focused research question about a first-gen issue (persistence, aid, belonging, transfer, etc.).
3. E Evidence
4. Include one NCES statistic (with page/section) and one additional credible source (with a link or brief reference).
5. R Reasoning
6. Explain how the evidence supports your claim/question. Name any assumptions you are making (what you are assuming is true).
7. C Counterargument (or Limitation)
8. Share one reasonable alternative explanation or one limitation (sample, context, recency, missing variable, etc.).
9. A Advancement (Next Step)
10. Propose the next step: a variable to compare, a subgroup to examine, a method to try, or a key term to define.
11. Q Question for Peers
12. End with one targeted question you want peers to help you answer (example: What comparison group would sharpen this?).