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完美撰題八大原則三：留意潛藏在教材與其他地方的研究主題
【學術專欄】
8 Ways to Choose a Perfect Research Paper Topic # 3 – Be alert to potential topics in course material and elsewhere
完美撰題八大原則三：留意潛藏在教材與其他地方的研究主題
在學術寫作中，「完美」是相對的，但也是我們追求的理想。想寫出完美的研究報告，首先選擇題目必須明智。本次學術專欄特別推出「完美撰題八大原則」，為大家介紹選擇題目的原則，每項原則將定期刊登於TPS專頁。
“Perfect” is a relative term in academic writing, but it always is the ideal. The first rule in the pursuit of perfection in a paper is to choose a topic wisely. This essay introduces and explains one guide in selecting a topic. Each guide is contained in “8 Guides in Choosing a Perfect Research Paper Topic” and will be posted on the TPS Fan page as introduced.
# 3 – Be alert to potential topics in course material and elsewhere
原則三 留意潛藏在教材與其他地方的研究主題
Sometimes the perfect topic is perfectly hidden … right under your nose. When an assignment is given in a class, the tendency is to focus on the assignment as if it exists separate from the rest of your intellectual activity. Not true. Assignments do not occur in vacuums. They are part of what is going on around you in the class—and outside the class. All knowledge is part of the same intellectual continuum; the sooner this is understood, the fuller a learning experience becomes.
有時候最棒的研究題目藏在最意想不到的地方－就藏在你的眼皮底下。一般人常把教授出的作業和其他研究分開來看，殊不知作業並不是單獨存在。作業不僅與課堂上的一切有關，也與課堂外的一切有關。所有學問都屬於一個連續的知識體系，早點明白這個道理，才能讓所學更為完整。
So the first place to begin a search for a topic is in the class material itself. Lectures. Textbooks. Laboratory or field experiences. Even conversations with classmates contain the seeds of ideas. This might seem to be a superfluous suggestion, yet too many students turn off their minds when the class bell rings, or a formal discussion period ends. Learning to listen engagingly at unstructured times and to critically explore material in depth will help the topic search.
因此，首先可以從課堂教材尋找研究主題，無論是授課內容、教科書、實驗或研究過程都能多加探索，班上同學的對話討論也可能成為靈感來源。這個建議聽起來或許有點多餘，但許多學生往往下課鈴一響，正式討論時間一結束，就把研究心思關起來。如果能學會在平日就積極聆聽，認真、深入探索教材內容，對尋找研究題目一定助益良多。
The other great place to look for topical revelation is in wholly unrelated reading material. Almost regardless of how specialized a research assignment is, valuable insight can be gleaned from general circulation publications. Sometimes a popular writer’s approach to a completely different subject can suggest a new academic approach. Or a word might jump out that sparks fresh thinking. The world is awash with ideas. Splash around in it and see what you can find.
與研究無關的讀物是另一個尋找研究題目的好地方；不論研究領域多專門，幾乎都可以在一般讀物裡尋獲寶貴的洞見。有時發現暢銷作家處理完全不同主體的方法，可進而助於找出新的學術研究方法；有時某個詞彙突然跳出來，也能激發新鮮的想法。世上充斥著各式各樣的想法，探索世界，你一定能有所收穫。
完美撰題八大原則三：留意潛藏在教材與其他地方的研究主題
在學術寫作中，「完美」是相對的，但也是我們追求的理想。想寫出完美的研究報告，首先選擇題目必須明智。本次學術專欄特別推出「完美撰題八大原則」，為大家介紹選擇題目的原則，每項原則將定期刊登於TPS專頁。
“Perfect” is a relative term in academic writing, but it always is the ideal. The first rule in the pursuit of perfection in a paper is to choose a topic wisely. This essay introduces and explains one guide in selecting a topic. Each guide is contained in “8 Guides in Choosing a Perfect Research Paper Topic” and will be posted on the TPS Fan page as introduced.
# 3 – Be alert to potential topics in course material and elsewhere
原則三 留意潛藏在教材與其他地方的研究主題
Sometimes the perfect topic is perfectly hidden … right under your nose. When an assignment is given in a class, the tendency is to focus on the assignment as if it exists separate from the rest of your intellectual activity. Not true. Assignments do not occur in vacuums. They are part of what is going on around you in the class—and outside the class. All knowledge is part of the same intellectual continuum; the sooner this is understood, the fuller a learning experience becomes.
有時候最棒的研究題目藏在最意想不到的地方－就藏在你的眼皮底下。一般人常把教授出的作業和其他研究分開來看，殊不知作業並不是單獨存在。作業不僅與課堂上的一切有關，也與課堂外的一切有關。所有學問都屬於一個連續的知識體系，早點明白這個道理，才能讓所學更為完整。
So the first place to begin a search for a topic is in the class material itself. Lectures. Textbooks. Laboratory or field experiences. Even conversations with classmates contain the seeds of ideas. This might seem to be a superfluous suggestion, yet too many students turn off their minds when the class bell rings, or a formal discussion period ends. Learning to listen engagingly at unstructured times and to critically explore material in depth will help the topic search.
因此，首先可以從課堂教材尋找研究主題，無論是授課內容、教科書、實驗或研究過程都能多加探索，班上同學的對話討論也可能成為靈感來源。這個建議聽起來或許有點多餘，但許多學生往往下課鈴一響，正式討論時間一結束，就把研究心思關起來。如果能學會在平日就積極聆聽，認真、深入探索教材內容，對尋找研究題目一定助益良多。
The other great place to look for topical revelation is in wholly unrelated reading material. Almost regardless of how specialized a research assignment is, valuable insight can be gleaned from general circulation publications. Sometimes a popular writer’s approach to a completely different subject can suggest a new academic approach. Or a word might jump out that sparks fresh thinking. The world is awash with ideas. Splash around in it and see what you can find.
與研究無關的讀物是另一個尋找研究題目的好地方；不論研究領域多專門，幾乎都可以在一般讀物裡尋獲寶貴的洞見。有時發現暢銷作家處理完全不同主體的方法，可進而助於找出新的學術研究方法；有時某個詞彙突然跳出來，也能激發新鮮的想法。世上充斥著各式各樣的想法，探索世界，你一定能有所收穫。
