If your topic is a single word or simple phrase, it's probably too broad, like these topics:
- climate change
- the Eiffel Tower
- bridges
When topics are too broad like this, your writing ends up turning into a long definition. Instead, topics should investigate or analyze something.
Sometimes it's hard to get from a broad topic to a research question that investigates something. To get started, think about your topic in these terms:
- Who is involved or affected?
- What problem would you like to resolve? Or, what is a possible solution?
- When is this topic relevant? Right now, or more historical?
- Where (geographically) is the topic relevant?
- How did it happen?
Your topic doesn't need to be stated as a question. It could be a statement or hypothesis to find evidence for - or against.