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220 Best Humanities Research Topics to Get Started

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Humanities is a broad academic discipline that deals with the various facets of culture and human society. It mainly involves the study of languages, philosophy, literature, religion, art, history, law, archaeology, and anthropology. If you are a humanities student, then as a part of your course, you will have to submit a research paper on any interesting topic related to the subject. In case, you are unsure what topic to choose for your humanities research paper, then check this blog post. For your convenience, here, we have presented a list of the great humanities research topics in various categories. Also, we have shared a few significant tips for selecting a good humanities research topic.

Without wasting your time, explore this blog post and get more ideas for humanities research paper writing.

Humanities Research Topics

Tips for Selecting a Good Humanities Research Topic

Before jumping into the humanities research topics list, first, let us take a look at how to select a good humanities research topic.

Usually, when it comes to research paper writing assignments, your professors will share some writing prompts for you to choose from. But, at certain times, they will allow you to select a topic on your own. In such a scenario, you may get confused about what topic to choose.

If you are given a chance to select the humanities research topic of your choice, follow the below-mentioned tips. It would help you identify an ideal humanities research topic.

  • Pick a practical research topic.
  • Choose a topic that belongs to your area of interest.
  • Go with a topic that is related to both the current and historical perspectives.
  • Give preference to the topic that is impactful to society.
  • Never pick a topic with no or less research scope.
  • Select a topic that is matching to the research methodology of your choice.
  • Consider a topic that is interesting and informative to your readers.
  • Choose a research topic that has extensive information and credible sources for reference.
  • Select a topic that contains valid facts, evidence, or examples supporting your major points of discussion.

Besides all these steps, before finalizing your research topic, check whether the topic you have identified stands in line with the writing guidelines of your professor or university. Once you have chosen a perfect humanities research topic, start writing the research paper by using your writing skills, after conducting deep research.

List of the Best Humanities Research Topics

To write a humanities research paper, you can choose a topic from any discipline such as arts, religion, philosophy, medicine, etc.

Humanities Research Topics

Especially, to make your topic selection process simple and help you save time, below we have added a list of outstanding humanities research paper ideas on various categories. Go through the entire list carefully and pick any topic that is convenient for you to research and write about.

Basic Humanities Research Paper Topics

  • Assess the best strategies for negotiations during wars.
  • How do body image issues change with age?
  • Does book reading make people more social?
  • How does economic prosperity affect the feeling of patriotism?
  • Explain the effects of gender-based violence on children’s personalities.
  • Explain how social media affect America’s political decisions.
  • What are the social changes in developed nations?
  • Research the effectiveness of the UN in fostering global peace.
  • Discuss the negative impacts of teen pregnancies.
  • What is the role of America in Europe’s restoration after WWII?
  • Discuss the role of artists in a time of war
  • Application of the views of Socrates to western democracy in the 21 st Century
  • Evaluation of Appalachian language and its academic power
  • Critical analysis of the role of conflicts in violence
  • Why building resilience is important for ensuring environmental sustainability?
  • Perspective pathways to greater human flourishing
  • Regional Identity and Appalachian Language
  • The 18th Century Conventions of Feminism and Jane Austen
  • How can the theories of Socrates be applied to 21st-century Western Democracy?
  • Briefly discuss the historical tension between religion and science with examples

Excellent Humanities Project Ideas

  • Compare human and animal sacrifice in religion.
  • Are fast foods spoiling traditional food cultures?
  • What are the pros and cons of studying gender issues in school?
  • How photography is framing public opinion in the 21st century?
  • Investigate the role of the justice system in advancing equality.
  • Compare African socialism in the 1950 and 1970s.
  • Discuss the environmental foundations necessary for humanities.
  • Explain the pros and cons of studying humanities.
  • Discuss how cultural stereotypes are developed by superstitions.
  • Why is it hard to stop bullying in school?
  • Research why language is essential for any society to thrive.
  • What impact do graphic novels have on literacy?
  • Assess human communication and behavior.
  • How oral history has affected modern culture?
  • How science fiction has invaded the mainstream culture around the world?
  • How do intersectionality and gender bias affect inclusion and diversity in the workplace?
  • Describe the current status of transgender and other sexual minority communities in Canada
  • Discuss some common social justice issues across every country in the world
  • Humanity is the best religion and the essence of human existence: Explain
  • Impact of the feminism movement on society

Great Humanities Research Paper Topics

  • Discuss the link between bureaucracy and the law-making process.
  • Write about the executive power in the US.
  • What are the ethical issues involved in media advertising?
  • Explain the connection between Italian fashion and Chinese culture.
  • Discuss the impact of dual nationality on political views.
  • Analyze the effects of poverty in rural communities.
  • How Twitter has transformed into a powerful political platform?
  • Is capitalism the best system?
  • What is the impact of the Neolithic revolution on people’s cognitive abilities?
  • Discuss the effects of daily family routines on a child’s development.
  • How to differentiate the humanities from the social sciences?
  • Explain the role of capitalism and communism in the study of humanities.
  • What are the global political and economic issues that affect the study of humanities?
  • Discuss the effects of irresponsible teenage behavior in society.
  • Discuss the pros and cons of early marriages.
  • Analyze the humanities curriculum in the U.S.A.
  • Write about the origin of humanities in Classical Greek.
  • What are the factors that inhibit the study of anthropological linguistics?
  • Explain the factors that modify the behavior of individuals and society.
  • Explain the impact of the Me Too movement on the girl-child.

Captivating Humanities Research Topics

  • What are the effects of Consumerism on sustainability?
  • Write about the fashion trends in society.
  • Research the social problems faced by people who are with disabilities.
  • Why does cultural appropriation always result in political contests?
  • Should poverty be treated as a social issue?
  • What are the benefits of countercultures in society?
  • How to prevent the fight for resources in families using the conflict theory?
  • What is the role of the bible in the development of US democracy?
  • Explain the major differences between interstate conflicts and wars.
  • Using the critical race theory analyze the Black Lives Matter activist movement.
  • Analyze the impact of different class systems on associations.
  • What are the various clashes between different social classes in the world?
  • Discuss the effect of various social movements in advocating for change.
  • What is the ultimate cause of criminal organizations in different societies?
  • Explain the effect of technology on preserving historical facts.
  • Explore the reaction of people towards social policies.
  • Discuss the differences between sects and cults.
  • What is the impact of the separation of humanities from the realm of the divine?
  • Discuss the role of critical thinking and effective communication in humanities.
  • What is the role of early Middle Ages Church Fathers in humanities?

Humanities Research Paper Topics

Humanities Research Topics in Philosophy

  • Discuss election ethics.
  • What are the main causes of war?
  • Prepare a case study of Europe in the 20th century based on the application of socialism.
  • Discuss the inference of learning philosophy for the growth of a society.
  • Discuss the implications of scientific realism on judgment by scientists.
  • How to eradicate corruption in society?
  • Explore mind philosophy and problems with dualism.
  • Discuss the main challenges involved in regulating the environment using laws.
  • Are morals relative to society or culture?
  • Using Aristotle’s perspectives define a perfect government.

Humanities and Arts Research Paper Topics

  • How does art education make people think differently?
  • Discuss the effect of music on modern culture and society.
  • Explain the impact of the Cultural Revolution on Chinese art.
  • Compare the themes in modern and traditional Caribbean music.
  • What is water puppetry in Vietnamese tradition?
  • Analyze the Mayan art and society.
  • Explain the music and political propaganda in the 20th century.
  • Compare the role of liberal arts education in the 20th and 21st centuries.
  • What is the use of totem masks in Papua New Guinea art?
  • Discuss the causes of the decline of art in medieval Europe.
  • Explain how Japanese art influenced that country’s clothing.
  • How the modern art is related to American suffering?
  • What is the effect of the printing press on the wide-scale spread of art?
  • What is the influence of ancient art on current artistic trends?
  • Describe the ancient Greek and Roman motifs in modern architectural works.
  • Discuss the effects of social media on digital art and the spread of ideas.
  • Explain the K-pop music style and subculture.
  • Explain the impact of mythology on the sculptures of Ancient Greece.
  • Depict war in 20th-century art.
  • Should advertisements be seen as a form of modern art?

Medical Humanities Research Topics

  • Can exercise ruin a person’s health?
  • Should a doctor be allowed to offer medical help against the desires of the guardian?
  • Discuss the impact of various medical and technological advances.
  • Explain how to deal with end-of-life issues in medicine.
  • How are medical addictions portrayed in literature?
  • Where the people with mental issues should be treated- in or outside their communities?
  • Explain the history of abortion throughout the 20th century.
  • What is the relationship between medicine and humanities?
  • Examine the practice of medicine across different cultures.
  • Is it ethical to use animals for testing drugs?
  • Discuss the ethics of medical advances.
  • Explain the medical practices in the field of battle.
  • Discuss the criminal charges for medical malpractice throughout the 21st century.
  • How do humanities affect the use of alternative medicines?
  • Discuss the religious impact on the medical community.

Digital Humanities Research Paper Topics

  • Why do social media make people feel lonely as opposed to connecting them?
  • How to incorporate digital technologies in archiving archaeological data?
  • Discuss the history of computing in the humanities.
  • Explain the effect of Modern devices and technology on people’s relationships.
  • Evaluate the nature and extent of the digital revolution.
  • What are the effects of video games on violence in society?
  • Have a closer look at humanities studies and the age of information technology.
  • Discuss the history of the printing press and its role in spreading ideas.
  • How do modern gadgets affect people’s mental health?
  • Should we adopt a scientific approach to the problem of alcoholism?
  • Does digital technology offer a better life?
  • Explore the potential of digital academic data.
  • Discuss the future of digital communication.
  • Explain how data visualization tools are changing people’s opinions.
  • Discuss the change in people’s jobs because of technological developments.

Humanities Research Topics on Religion

  • Discuss the conflict between religion and social order.
  • Compare the two most ancient religions in society.
  • What is the role of religion in contemporary society?
  • Explain the concept of reincarnation in different religions.
  • What is the major reason for the emergence of new religions?
  • What is the importance of the church in the well-being of society?
  • Compare funeral rituals in two religions of your choice.
  • Explain the difference between new and older religious movements.
  • Discuss the positive changes that can be achieved through religious practices.
  • Analyze the concept of Goddess and God in religion.
  • Explain the similarities between religions around the world.
  • What is the effect of sacrificial traditions in ancient religions on today’s society?
  • Discuss female clergy in religions.
  • What is the relationship between religion and science?
  • Explain the role of religion and mythology in the study of humanities.

Amazing Humanities Research Ideas

  • What are the effects of cultural assimilation?
  • Explain why the topic of abortion is a live wire in most societies.
  • What is the role of poverty in facilitating violence and civil unrest?
  • Why has online dating twisted the necessity of marriage?
  • Why is pop music gaining acceptance among the general population?
  • Is cultural segmentation a good thing?
  • Prepare a case study of mass media and fear during terrorist attacks.
  • How to handle the institutional crisis?
  • Why social theories are significant in the field of humanities?
  • What is the role of gender in determining leadership positions in society?
  • Explain the social issues that affect students in colleges and universities.
  • Analyze the effects of the great migration.
  • Why are primarily teenagers and youths resistant to their parents?
  • Explain the consequences of intersectionality and discrimination in any society.
  • Compare pop music and classical music

Read more: Great Human Rights Topics For Writing Academic Papers

Outstanding Humanities Research Topics

  • Write about Western humanities in the 21 st
  • Discuss symbolism in television sci-fi shows.
  • Explain the evolution of socialist movements throughout the world.
  • Write about humanities in the computer age and mass information.
  • How does online publishing affect humanities?
  • Describe the Bible’s representation of humanities and culture.
  • Write about community volunteer programs and their impact on youths.
  • Discuss the influence of science on humanities over the centuries.
  • Present the different definitions of freedom from around the world.
  • Why the tools for cultural analysis are essential for humanities?
  • Alternative dispute resolution mechanism for the settlement of environmental disputes in Nigeria: A Study of Ojodu Community, Lagos State
  • Describe the scarily lucrative business model of human trafficking
  • Technical Change And Productivity in the Manufacturing Industry in Imo State of Nigeria
  • How the military force of a nation can promote human security in conflict situations?
  • Analyze the governance and service delivery of the local government in the Kiruhura District of Uganda

Top-rated Humanities Dissertation Topics

  • What are the challenges faced by adult graduates with learning technologies?
  • Explain the impact of the internet on the emotional maturity of the students.
  • How do the qualities of family life affect parent-child relationships?
  • Assess the link between classroom quality and learning results in kindergarten.
  • Is creativity a type of fantasy?
  • What are the major causes of the Cold War?
  • Discuss the effect of adoption on parent-child relationships.
  • Investigate how racism affects a family unit.
  • What are the political and social implications of design?
  • Explain the future of humanity in an extraterrestrial world.
  • Examining the most effective tactics for wartime negotiations: Utilize three 20th-century example studies.
  • When should kids start receiving sex education?
  • Offspring of multinational marriages facing identification challenges.
  • Who is responsible for defending human rights on a global scale? A study of the International Criminal Court’s efficacy.
  • The major reason for misunderstandings in social media communication is a lack of face-to-face encounters.

Read more: Interesting Dissertation Topics to Consider for Academic Writing

Informative Humanities Research Ideas

  • Answering the challenging inquiries What is the main reason for the conflicts between Israel and Palestine? Can it or it be dealt with?
  • How Twitter has become a potent political tool.
  • Do gender and spirituality go together?
  • Should the United States be held accountable for the severe harm that its use of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused to Japan?
  • Should social media use be controlled to lessen the risk of addiction and other adverse effects?
  • Discuss the role played by NGOs and free-of-cost education service delivery organizations to develop underdeveloped nations
  • Participation motives and competitive orientation of football players in the Kenyan Women’s Premier League
  • Analyze the central idea of marriage in African Religio-Culture with reference to the Maasai of Kajiado County, Kenya
  • Critical analysis of women’s political participation: a case of Bomachoge constituency in Kenya (1963-2013)
  • Association between paternal illicit drug and alcohol consumption, complementary feeding and children’s nutrition status

Awesome Humanities Research Topics

  • A critical look at the different branches of anthropology
  • Explain the various changes in human societies through time.
  • How to propagate a self-sufficient system of human values in the society
  • What is the impact of breaking down humanities into other majors?
  • Discuss the notion of different societies concerning aging
  • Elaborate on the impact of the myths and misconceptions about coronavirus
  • Discuss the political aspects that relate to social interactions
  • Explore the field of Geography and its relationship to humanities
  • A systematic review of the issues affecting rational arguments
  • Evaluate the process that led to the unification of Germany

Out of the different ideas suggested in this blog, select any topic of your choice and draft a brilliant humanities research paper. In case, you need help with humanities research paper topic selection and writing, get in touch with us immediately.

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233 Great Humanities Topics For 2023

humanities topics

Picking a great paper topic is the first step you need to put together a great assignment. In humanities classes, this is very important because you need to consider topics that will explore new areas in the subject but also be topics that can be thoroughly researched given the limitations of an assignment. If you ask, “what are humanities topics I can use to write a great research paper?” you can refer to the list of free humanities paper topics below:

Humanities and Arts Research Topics

These humanities research paper topics are great for students interested in art history and other related fields that take a close look at the impact art has had on society:

  • Impact of Middle Eastern art on Western civilization.
  • American art influences democracy.
  • The Romantic period and modern art techniques.
  • Depictions of war in 20 th -century art.
  • Defining the European distress in modern art forms.
  • Racist depictions in early global maps and the impact on societies.
  • The ways that medicine has impacted how we view cultural expression.
  • Human flourishing and different perspectives in modern art.
  • Religious influence in 19 th -century European art.
  • The African American experience during the Harlem Renaissance.
  • The influence of music on modern culture and society.
  • Political propaganda in 20 th century American and European art.
  • The Beat Generation and its influence on modern art.
  • Ancient art and its influence on current artistic trends.
  • Mayan and Aztec artistic influence on current Latino cultures.
  • The Reformation Period and its impact on the art of the 20 th century.
  • Social media’s impact on digital art and the spread of ideas.
  • The impact of the printing press on the widescale spread of art.
  • The impact that modern warfare has had on artistic expression.
  • The stolen art of WWII and how it relates to cultures.
  • Early cave paintings and the understanding of human culture.
  • Racism and negative ethnic depictions in 20 th -century art.
  • Explain the ways Japanese art influenced the country’s clothing.
  • Popular music is an artistic form of expression among youth.
  • The censorship of specific artforms and the impact on culture.
  • The most famous architectural works from around the world.
  • How architecture was influenced by foreign cultures.
  • Ancient Greek and Roman motifs in modern architectural works.
  • The influence of 20 th -century art on 21 st -century culture.
  • How music influences youth culture in the 21 st century.

Topics in Digital Humanities

This is a relatively new field that offers a lot of opportunities for exploration. Just be sure you consider your topic carefully, as you may have some trouble finding information in your research:

  • Social media’s impact on third world countries.
  • The impact social media has had on international relations.
  • The ways digital humanities is changing the educators teach children.
  • Explain how digital access to information affects culture.
  • Metadata and scholarship processing in the 21 st century.
  • Language processing with the use of digital tools.
  • Linguistics and the role digital humanities has on the future.
  • The study of migration using technology.
  • Digital tools and their role in mapping underground structures.
  • Digital communication creates a bigger gap between generations.
  • The study of ancient texts through digital technologies.
  • Digital humanities and the mapping of our ancestral histories.
  • Linked open data and the challenges it faces in gathering data.
  • The ways digital archiving has helped people embrace ancestral cultures.
  • Researching art using digital technologies.
  • The impact digital humanities will have on higher education.
  • The media’s use of digital communication can affect the way we identify culturally.
  • Digital humanities in the developing world.
  • Machine learning and its impact on the discipline of humanities.
  • Implementing digital tools and resources into education.
  • Forensic study in the search for hidden meaning in texts.
  • Encoding U.S. documents to improve the legal process.
  • Digital communication and how we view military conflicts.
  • Access to digital information helps people learn more efficiently.
  • Removing discrepancies in translations of ancient works.
  • Recognizing patterns in historical literature.
  • Digital archives and analysis of the written word.
  • The ways data visualization tools are changing people’s opinions.
  • Digital humanities change the way we view our cultural past.
  • The ways digital humanities have helped us visually recreate ancient cities.

Medical Humanities Research Topics

These ideas are great to write about because many discussions are occurring on the internet. Writing about medical issues is a great way to get the reader’s attention. Here are some great topics to consider for a humanities research paper:

  • Humanities studies impact doctor-assisted suicide cases.
  • The history of abortion throughout the 20 th century.
  • Cultural influences and prenatal genetic testing in developed countries.
  • The evolution of medical costs in the United States.
  • The ways that medical theories have been represented in art.
  • Informing families of patients’ illnesses throughout literature.
  • Wearing a mask after Covid-19 and its effects on culture.
  • Social distancing and the connections made through social media.
  • Creating a culture of social distancing to avoid future pandemics.
  • Giving doctors the right to work extra hours without pay.
  • How literature influences the use of marijuana for medical regions.
  • Robotics replacing the roles of nurses and doctors in the medical field.
  • Medical depictions in art versus religious depictions in art.
  • How are medical addictions portrayed in literature?
  • The practice of medicine across different cultures.
  • Medical ethics is involved in deciding who lives and dies.
  • Medical practices in the field of battle.
  • Medical care for people from low-income areas.
  • The impact art has had on growing the medical community.
  • Medical records and the development of treatments.
  • How humanities influence the use of alternative medicines.
  • How religion impacts the way patients agree to treatments.
  • Criminal charges for medical malpractice throughout the 21 st century.
  • Representation of the medical profession through the 20 th century.
  • The rise of confidentiality agreements in the medical field.
  • Questions and concerns regarding abortion in the modern age.
  • The decision to vaccinate or not for the safety of the greater population.
  • Religious impact on the medical community.
  • The rights of patients when religion prevents certain procedures.
  • Medical depictions in the art are against religious principles.

Good Research Topics for Humanities

If you don’t have a lot of time to conduct in-depth research, you may want to write about any of these topics in humanities. You will have no trouble finding information on the web, just be sure you use trustworthy sources when making your argument:

  • The impact television has had on modern culture.
  • Political commentary in modern music.
  • The role humanities will play on future generations.
  • The ways humans flourish through different shared perspectives.
  • The need to promote the study of humanities in schools.
  • The application of philosophy in western democracy.
  • Artistic influence during the times of war.
  • The ways the Depression of the 1930s influenced culture.
  • Broadening the mind through international travel.
  • Literature and the increasing rate of illiteracy in adults.
  • The impact music has on political propaganda.
  • Fair treatment of immigrants in the U.S.
  • Western humanities in the 21 st century.
  • The ways culture is shaped by modern photography.
  • Eastern philosophy and its influence on western cultures.
  • Cults and modern religious movements in American society.
  • Eastern religion and its influence on western beliefs.
  • The importance of studying philosophy in humanities.
  • International trade routes and the spread of cultures.
  • The impact of social media in modern culture.
  • Social media and the dissemination of international news.
  • The impact that media has on modern culture.
  • The Ottoman Empire and its role in shaping the Middle East.
  • The impact the 20 th migration movement had on international policy.
  • The lost Native-American languages and the country’s culture.
  • The influence that African music has had on American culture.
  • The impact Joe Hill had on the country’s early labor struggles.
  • The influence of the Beat Generation on modern culture.
  • The unification of Germany and its impact on international policy.
  • Gender expectations in American modern fiction.

Humanities Project Ideas for High School

When writing any assignment, you always want to make sure you choose a good topic. These humanities topics ideas are great for students that are still learning skills in researching and writing. Students should have no trouble finding information:

  • Sacrificial traditions in ancient religions and their impact on today’s society.
  • The impact the printing press had on spreading religion.
  • Theatre of the absurd and its impact on modern culture.
  • The protection of traditions when they are considered unethical.
  • Questions that arise from space exploration efforts.
  • The impact the IRA has had on international relations.
  • Interpreting Sigmund Freud’s theories in the 21 st century.
  • Cultural differences between Latin American countries.
  • The Chinese Communist Revolution and its influence on global culture.
  • Fairy tales and the influence they have had on modern cinema.
  • Symbolism in television sci-fi shows.
  • How the gothic genre has captured new readers.
  • The history of nationalism in the United States vs. European countries.
  • Speakeasies in the 1920s and the role they had in shaping culture.
  • The Sit-down strike of the mid-1930s and its impact on the 21 st century.
  • The impact graphic novels have had on literacy.
  • The United States’ Woman’s Suffrage Movement and its influence around the world.
  • The war protests of the 1960s and 1970s and modern American politics.
  • How African culture has influenced modern American culture.
  • The decisions that are made by public policy committees.
  • The Dust Bowl and how the U.S. was shaped into different regions.
  • How eco poetry has changed our understanding of the environment.
  • Folklore’s influence on how we interact with others.
  • How science fiction has entered the mainstream culture around the world.
  • Community volunteer programs and their impact on youth.
  • How oral history has influenced modern culture.
  • The impact television has had on America’s youth.
  • Explain the history of human violence in the U.S.
  • The human family unit and its role in racism.
  • Human interaction over social media outlets.

Humanities Essay Topics for College

The humanities research topics listed below don’t require a lot of in-depth academic research and can be dealt with by doing some easy background research on the web and then some research at the library:

  • Animal rights and their impact on American culture.
  • The effect that Third Wave Feminism has had on Europe.
  • The influence the Islamic religion has had on American culture.
  • The meaning of moral philosophy in the United States.
  • Similarities between religions around the world.
  • Political obligation at the federal level versus the state level.
  • How humans think about the future of the world.
  • The definition of the human condition is described in the Bible.
  • Events that led to the study of humanity at a scholarly level.
  • The negative effects of the temperance movement in the U.S.
  • The quest for happiness in modern society.
  • The ways theology contradicts our knowledge of medicine.
  • The industrial revolution’s impact on human identity.
  • The impact modern photography has on European and American culture.
  • Color and the impact it has had on the human experience.
  • Different definitions of freedom from around the world.
  • The major religious ideologies in humans and their impact on societies.
  • The role gender definitions play in the educational experience.
  • Development of new languages in today’s society.
  • Diverse human behaviors and cultural characteristics.
  • The Bible’s representation of humanities and cultures.
  • Humans and the root of modern society.
  • Possessions humans have learned to live without.
  • Global warming and its impact on different cultures around the world.
  • The evolution of violence among humans.
  • The reason why humans will become extinct.
  • The ways subcultures have developed over the decades.
  • Science and its influence on humanities over the centuries.
  • The way Roman and Greek civilizations educated themselves.
  • The evolution of social interactions among humans.
  • The way Western Civilizations developed over the centuries.
  • The negative impact humans have on the earth’s environment.
  • Music and its impact on human psychology.
  • The ways our environmental surroundings affect our cultures.
  • Present a detailed overview and analysis of global humanities.
  • The characteristics that separate humans from all other animals.
  • The importance of mistakes to improve a person’s development.
  • The impact war has on children in devastated areas.
  • How humans became the dominant species on earth.
  • The reasons humans have decided to procreate less.

Topics for Humanities Research Paper

Many young students find this area of study interesting. So, we have gathered several humanities research project topics that will inspire them to explore the field further without being too overwhelming:

  • The ways different world cultures perceive and handle death.
  • The role of holidays in bringing people together and strengthening the family unit.
  • Relationships with domesticated pets and inclusion into family life.
  • The cultural meaning behind family names and how they bring people together.
  • The role a nation’s economy has had on human development.
  • The evolution of socialist movements throughout the world.
  • The tension between religion and science throughout the centuries.
  • The ways humanity will change in the next century because of our current state.
  • An exploration of the way humanity was represented in the art of the Renaissance.
  • The Enlightenment Period and its impact on human development.
  • The Harlem Renaissance and its influence on African American culture.
  • Humanities in the computer age and mass information.
  • Human identity and the role of the Industrial Revolution in our development.
  • The relationship between the environment and human beings.
  • The impact WWI and WWII had on our understanding of humanity.
  • Holidays and the different ways we celebrate them.
  • Cultural diets from around the world and our relationship with food.
  • The ways different cultures define democratic freedom.
  • Education in liberal arts and its current role in education.
  • The course of American politics over the last century.

Interesting Humanities Topics for Grad School

As students become more familiar with this type of assignment and as they advance to higher academic levels, they will need to choose a topic that meets or surpass the standards of their instructors’ expectations. Here is a list targeted toward graduate-level students:

  • The impact that genocides have had on groups of people.
  • Comic books and graphic novels and their influence on America’s youth.
  • Super-hero movies in the 21 st century and how they are affecting culture.
  • The influence the media has on our understanding of society.
  • The most fascinating aspects of European and American culture.
  • Different cultures and our beliefs about the human soul.
  • The ways Asian literature has entered American culture.
  • Slavery across the centuries and the ways we still discriminate.
  • Early civilizations and the evolution of human societies.
  • Human interactions with nature and wild species.
  • The political divide is caused by different parties and ideologies.
  • World Travel and its ability to broaden our thinking of other cultures.
  • The influence villains in movies have on human behavior.
  • The ways people mistreat natural environments.
  • Violence in television and the ways it affects young adults.
  • The impact racism has had in American society.
  • The ways society is influenced by the media.
  • Diversity and inclusion among different ethnic groups.
  • Professional sports and their ability to bring people together.
  • Cultural identification and the way it affects the way we look at history.
  • The definition of social Darwinism in modern society.
  • The portrayal of women in 20 th -century European literature.

If you need more humanities research papers, we can put you in contact with one of our academic experts trained in the subject. He or she can provide you with a custom list you can apply to any kind of assignment. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Send us an email or call us by phone, we are always glad to help.

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243 amazing humanities topics for research.

humanities topics

Humanities is an academic discipline that deals with studying the different aspects of culture and human society. This field has a rich historical background that distinguishes it from other empirical approaches to the natural sciences.

The different fields in humanities include archaeology, classics, philosophy, religion, linguistics, and languages. You will encounter methods such as hermeneutics and source criticism in the course of your study. It is crucial to understand that scholars in humanities significant to questions rather than answers.

What Are Humanities Topics?

These are topics that major in interpreting the known facts and look at them from a fresh perspective. Unlike sciences and other fields, there are no restrictive rules – you can create them in the form of art.

Humanities topics involve the study of human society and social relationships. Such titles are analytical and deal with the philosophical questions of what makes us human. Since they trace their origin from ancient Greece, these topics take a more historical turn.

When coming up with humanities topics, it is essential to consider the following:

  • They should be practical
  • They should impact society as a whole
  • Should relate the historical and current perspectives

Humanities students have the rare opportunity of understanding ancient and modern events that shape human life. You can learn all things from the romantic era’s poetry to the rise and fall of empires in the 15th century. It thus widens your understanding of the historical perspectives of almost every aspect of life.

In humanities topics, college students get strengthened in their research, writing, and critical thinking skills. But what are the best topics in humanities that you can present and score an A+?

Look at the topics below for inspiration.

Best-Rated Anthropology Humanities Paper Topics

  • How different aspects of the social sciences relate with humanities and human biology.
  • Reproducible and verifiable experiments in human anthropology
  • Local traditions that shape the structure and functioning of human life
  • Scientific methods to understand social phenomena in the society
  • Why do humanities use nuanced descriptions rather than general laws?
  • A critical look at the different branches of anthropology
  • Factors that inhibit the study of anthropological linguistics
  • Why cultural anthropology receives a cold shoulder among most undergraduate students
  • Describe a case study that properly illustrates sociocultural anthropology
  • Why is it difficult to provide a holistic account of humans and human nature?
  • Why do anthropologists only specialize in one sub-field?
  • Explain the importance of the biological, linguistic, historical, and cultural aspects of any problem.
  • Describe the impact of anthropology arising as a science in Western societies
  • Major industrial trends associated with anthropology research
  • Effectiveness of methodological drives in studying peoples in communities with more simple social organization
  • Why non-western cultures are least accepted in most countries?
  • The quest for holism in the study of humanities
  • How to use the biogenetic, archaeological, and linguistic data in humanities

Professional Topics For Humanities Classes

  • Factors affecting the proper record keeping of archaeological data
  • The role of architecture, biofacts, and Eco facts in human archaeology
  • Using culture history to reconstruct past lifeways in ancient culture
  • Explain the various changes in human societies through time.
  • Describe the origin of humanities in the Classical Greek
  • How the general education dating from the Sophists in the mid-5th century influenced humanities
  • The role of early Middle Ages Church Fathers in humanities
  • Describe the role of 15th-century Italian humanists to denote secular literary
  • How ancient Greek and Latin studies have helped advance research in humanities
  • The impact of the separation of humanities from the realm of the divine
  • Methods of the maturing physical sciences in the scholarly arena
  • Discuss the contemporary conceptions concerning the study of humanities
  • Conduct a complete analysis of the humanities curriculum in the U.S.A.
  • How to propagate a self-sufficient system of human values in the society
  • How to distinguish the humanities from the social sciences

High-Quality Topics For Humanities Research Papers

  • How different countries vary in the way of their social interactions
  • What is the impact of breaking down humanities into other majors?
  • Global political and economic issues affecting the study of humanities
  • Using sociology to draw a complete picture of how the world works
  • How to reinvent the best ideas from the past occurrences effectively
  • The role of critical thinking and effective communication in humanities
  • Which set of abilities should students have for humanities?
  • Discuss the factors that affect the behavior of individuals and society
  • Why are humanities papers on marriage among the most relevant nowadays?
  • Is it true that focusing on the family is vital for one’s self-development?
  • Discuss the notion of different societies concerning aging
  • Why is the world still struggling with the problem of inequality to date?
  • Factors affecting changes in social interactions among communities
  • The role of social media in shaping the perspectives of different people
  • Evaluate the factors affecting teenagers in the 21st century

Impressive Topics For Humanities Research Paper

  • Discuss the impact of various social movements in advocating for change
  • Why is child abuse still a pertinent issue in the 21st century?
  • The role of social backgrounds in contributing to conflicts at workplaces
  • What is the main challenge facing racial movements?
  • An analysis of the reaction of people towards social policies
  • Elaborate on the trends and impacts of irresponsible teenage behavior in the society
  • Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of early marriages
  • Why should parents not restrict their children from accessing the internet?
  • Analyze the different class systems and their impact on associations
  • What is the primary cause of criminal organizations in different societies?
  • A case study of cliques among high school and college students
  • The risk of delaying early childhood education among children in the U.S.A.
  • Discuss the various clashes between different social classes in the world
  • What is the place of the marginalized in society?
  • Discuss the impact of the Me Too movement on the girl-child

Hot Humanities Research Topics

  • What are the leading causes of drinking among a majority of the population?
  • Discuss the various means of dealing with institutional crisis
  • The role of capitalism and communism in the study of humanities
  • What are the impacts of immigration into the U.S. from Mexico?
  • The role of gender in determining leadership positions in the society
  • Theoretical foundations of humanities in different institutions
  • Discuss the significant differences between sects and cults
  • Elaborate on the impact of the myths and misconceptions about coronavirus
  • The role of poverty in facilitating violence and civil unrest
  • Is cultural segmentation a good thing?
  • The effect of technology on preserving historical facts
  • Why social theories are essential in the field of humanities
  • Discuss the origin of the discrimination against African-Americans
  • An overview of the effects of cultural assimilation
  • Is it possible to eliminate healthcare disparities among the LGBT community?

Interesting Humanities Topics

  • Discuss the role of video games in advancing violence in societies
  • Why fashion is becoming a distraction for many in the society
  • Discuss why the topic of abortion is a live wire in most societies
  • A case study of mass media and fear during terrorism attacks
  • Discuss the social role of mass media in communities
  • Why has online dating distorted the necessity of marriages?
  • Discuss the evolution of lifestyles from the 15th century to date
  • The part of body images in appealing to emotions
  • Why are most college students victims of poor time management?
  • The effects of the social, cultural engagements in the development of societies
  • Discuss the political aspects that relate to social interactions
  • Why are primarily teenagers and youths defiant to their parents?
  • Why people from different nationalities differ from each other
  • Why can’t the millennial live without updates of any event?
  • Social issues affecting students in colleges and universities

Latest Humanities Project Ideas

  • Discuss the different branches of humanities concerned with creative audio-visual pursuits
  • Conduct an in-depth analysis of the human communication and behavior
  • Critically examine the role of the justice system in advancing equality
  • Current issues facing societies about the coronavirus prevention protocols
  • The part of statistical data relating to population
  • Explore the environmental foundations necessary for humanities
  • Look at the gender divide in society and how to address it
  • Discuss the cultural construct of the masculine and feminine identity
  • Explore the field of Geography and its relationship to humanities
  • How people interact with different physical features
  • What are the challenges when it comes to relations between nations?
  • Examine why language is essential for any society to thrive
  • The role of multi-cultural and regional dimensions to humanities
  • Why the study of beliefs, histories, values, and geographic backgrounds is necessary
  • A systematic review of the issues affecting rational arguments

Top-Tier Humanities Topics Ideas

  • Examine the role of religion and mythology in the study of humanities
  • Why is pop music gaining acceptance among the general population?
  • Investigate the relationship between society and social relationships
  • Explore how the politics and government of the United States has evolved over the ages
  • Study the implications of studying philosophy to the growth of a society
  • Dive into the impact of peer-reviewed humanities papers
  • The role of diversity in making the world a better place
  • The importance of intersectionality and discrimination in any society
  • Why differences can also advance peace and harmony
  • Discuss the social relations between Islam and Christians
  • Evaluate the process that led to the unification of Germany
  • How did the Vietnam War affect the relationships of different countries?
  • Outline the impacts of the great migration
  • Impact of the Women’s Suffrage movements in championing for female rights
  • How did the Ottoman Empire contribute to socialization?

World-Class Topics in Humanities

  • Discuss the conflict between religion and social order
  • What is the best disciplinary action for employees’ misconduct outside work
  • The role of sales tax on internet purchases
  • Why it is essential to understand the history of Europe in understanding humanities
  • Why are human beings anatomically similar?
  • The part of Greek and Latin texts and language in the study of humanities
  • Why are the classical-era scholars in important in humanities?
  • Discuss the role of humanities in institutions of higher learning
  • Why do humanities and liberal studies make up the bulk of specialization for college students
  • Give a substantive analysis of the renaissance-era humanists
  • The place of a balanced curriculum in fostering critical humanist skills
  • How humanities help students achieve analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Why do most universities require multiple humanities courses?
  • Discuss the events that led to the French revolution
  • The implications of William Shakespeare’s plays

Medical Humanities Research Topics

  • Discuss the ethical and humanistic dimensions of medicine
  • Analyze the impact of various medical and technological advances
  • The growing interest of researchers in the field of neuro-ethics
  • Discuss the relationship between medicine and humanities
  • How has the history of medicine varied with that of the humanities sector?
  • Critical issues of healthcare access and public health policy
  • What are the factors facing doctor-patient relationships?
  • Discuss how to deal with end-of-life issues in medicine
  • How does the media impact the study and progress of medicine?
  • Analyze the relationship between medicine and society
  • Who are the most significant scholars in medical anthropology?
  • A critical analysis of empathy and experience of illness
  • Choices available for doctors in the neonatal intensive care unit
  • How the issues of limited resources impact access to medical care
  • Analyze the ethics of medical advances

Good Research Topics For Humanities

  • Informed consent issues for the matter of terminal diseases
  • Why is humanities a rich interdisciplinary concentration?
  • The vital importance of diversity in any society
  • The state of empathy and sympathy during the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Explore the different aspects of poetry
  • Is it practical for anyone to work late in the night?
  • How modern literature writers find meaning and inspiration in the works
  • Ethical issues involved in the dialysis of the obese, homeless, and diabetic
  • Why motivational interviewing was preferred for patients with diabetes?
  • Discuss the effects of stigma among leaders
  • The role of technology in reshaping the future of social interactions
  • An innovative approach on the psychological aspects students
  • Discuss the essentials of a practical counseling session
  • Why do there exist disparities between the likeness of children to their parents
  • The effects of becoming a counseling psychologist

Unique Topics For Humanities Research Paper

  • Personal and professional reflections on the 9/11
  • How parents can handle children with disabilities
  • The impact of social media on the freedom of speech: A case of Facebook
  • The role of the international criminal court in maintains world law and order.
  • Analyze the economic context of a novel
  • Emergent property and consciousness in the study of philosophy
  • Discuss the effectiveness of the theories of punishment
  • Are we likely to experience a third and fourth wave of feminism?
  • What are the factors that are likely to cause philosophical anarchism?
  • Discuss the growth and spread of Pentecostalism in Latin America
  • Evaluate the impact of the Great Awakenings in the U.S. history
  • Conduct an overview of the Shia minorities in the Middle East
  • What are the social and cultural implications of the Religious Freedom Act?
  • Do atheists honestly believe that there is no God?
  • How to foster relationships among the Catholics and Evangelicals

College Humanities Essay Topics

  • The necessity of teaching children the gender issues
  • What is the origin of the discussions for and against gay marriages?
  • Is it correct to say that everyone is a stereotype by default?
  • An overview of the international marriages and globalism
  • The impact of spending more time on social networking sites
  • The role of social norms and cultures in a given society
  • Why do most people experience challenges shifting from one culture to another?
  • Discuss the relationship between a class and a student’s performance
  • Are unconventional families essential for the growth and development of any child?
  • Why do most students prefer foreign education over any other?
  • Discuss the concept of the right to privacy
  • Why do some studies need to engage in patriotism students?
  • The role of economic prosperity in influencing patriotism
  • Discuss the relationship between social media and addiction
  • A case study of WhatsApp as the best social media group in the U.S.A.

Topics in Digital Humanities

  • Discuss the various tools and methods for nineteenth-century American literature
  • Understanding how the media is involved in human interactions
  • Why digital communications technologies are the new norm
  • Analyze the nature and extent of the digital revolution
  • The history of computing in the humanities
  • A humanistic critique of the computational methods
  • Why most practitioners are opting for digital communication
  • The role of the computer as a continual tool of innovation
  • The process of using and building digital projects
  • Incorporating digital technologies in archiving archaeological data
  • Discuss the connection between traditional and digital textual scholarship
  • Large-scale digital literary analysis
  • Explore the potential of the digital academic data
  • The broader context of the digital humanities
  • How to computationally research and teach in humanities

Top Humanities Research Project Topics

  • Analysis of the macroscopic trends in cultural change
  • A textual analysis of digital archives
  • Why is there a lack of focus in pedagogy?
  • Issues of access to information in the society
  • Impact of online publishing in humanities
  • Cultural analytic tools necessary for humanities
  • The role of doctors in assisted suicide
  • What should administrators do to campus violence perpetrators?
  • The ethical downside of capital punishment
  • Who should determine the legal drinking age?
  • Why is modesty too hard to achieve nowadays?
  • The life of prisons and prisoners
  • Why doping in sports is still prevalent
  • Discuss the limitations of college admission policies
  • The role of education and funding

Humanities And Arts Research Topics

  • Home-schooling
  • Literacy levels in America
  • The role of prayer in schools
  • Programming and advertising
  • The portrayal of women by media
  • Physical attention techniques
  • Affirmative action programs in the U.S.A.
  • What is the way forward on gambling?
  • Race relations
  • Learning disabilities
  • Family values
  • Intelligence tests
  • Distant learning
  • White-collar jobs
  • Morals and values

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128 Unique Humanities Topics For Your Research Papers

humanities topics

Many students struggle to find humanities topics worth researching. That’s because most students think the humanities are only about ancient cultures and dead languages. However, social science and humanities explore how humans document and process different experiences. These study fields enable learners to understand intellectual and personal scales, such as culture, heritage, and identities. When studying humanities, students explore past self-exploration and philosophy to political views, economic issues, culture, and religion.

What Are Humanities?

The humanities are educational disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture. In the Renaissance, “humanities” referred to the studio humanitatis, a Medieval Latin phrase meaning “liberal arts or studies.” In the medieval curriculum, the seven liberal arts were grammar, rhetoric, and logic (the trivium); and arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music (the quadrivium). Academicians chose these subjects because they considered them essential for a free person—a citizen—to know so that they can actively participate in civic life, voting, holding office, serving on juries, and so forth.

Today’s humanities definition includes all those original seven subjects plus literature, history, philosophy, archaeology, anthropology, jurisprudence, comparative religion, and ethics. Topics in humanities help us understand aspects of our culture and others, how people lived in the past, what they believed, how they worked and played, what kinds of governments and social structures humans developed, and the type of art and technology they created. In other words: How did we get to be where we are today?

How To Improve A Bad Paper

Perhaps, you’ve chosen a topic and written an essay. Unfortunately, you might not like your paper because you feel it doesn’t meet your educator’s quality standards. In that case, follow these tips to improve it.

  • Make your description, anecdotal details, and sensory and imagery details more specific.
  • Make your paper more concise to convey ideas with few words
  • Use transition phrases or words
  • Make your thoughts understandable and clear to the reader
  • Check the organization to ensure ideas flow logically
  • Proofread and edit your paper.

Writing a research paper for a high grade is not an easy task. It’s better to hire a research paper service and get your papers complete on time. 

Interesting Humanities Topics

Do you love writing about exciting topics? If so, here’s a list of interesting ideas to explore in your humanity paper.

  • Investigating changes in gender roles in modern society
  • Exploring the differences between wars and interstate conflicts
  • Texas case study- How poverty affects tertiary education
  • Examining the illegal immigrants’ implications on host countries in Europe
  • How conflict theory can help prevent the fight for family resources
  • Is poverty a social issue?
  • Detailed analysis of the problems faced by people living with disabilities
  • Contemporary music and political commentary
  • The bible’s role in the US democracy’s development
  • Exploring labour struggles in Europe and their effects on global and local politics in the 19th century
  • Investigating the essence of studying humanities
  • Exploring the enlightenment age- What does it mean?
  • Examining the Appalachian regional identity
  • The race problem in the US- Exploring its causes
  • Analyzing the Black Lives Matter movement and its role in the race theory
  • How consumerism affects sustainability
  • A closer look at the counterculture’s benefits in society
  • A critical view of the differences between cults and sects
  • Analysing gender studies- What are the emerging issues?
  • Cultural appropriation- Investigating why it causes a political contest
  • Fashion trends in modern society- Examining their connection with cultures
  • Should governments legitimize prostitution?
  • The influence of oral history on modern culture
  • How graphic novels affect literacy
  • Discuss the pros and cons of studying humanities
  • How bullying is challenging to prevent in schools
  • Investigating the environmental foundations for humanities
  • Explore cultural stereotypes and how superstitions shape them
  • Compare animal and human sacrifice in religion
  • Analyzing human behaviour and communication

These are exciting topics to consider in this academic field. Nevertheless, take sufficient time researching your preferred title to write a winning paper. 

Top Humanities Research Paper Topics

Maybe, you want to write an academic paper about a topic in humanities. In that case, consider the following ideas for your research paper.

  • Capitalism- Is it the best system?
  • How poverty affects rural communities
  • Evaluating the effects of daily routines on kids’ development within family setups
  • The development of Twitter into a robust political platform
  • How irresponsible teen behaviour affects the society
  • Communism and capitalism’s role in humanities studies
  • Early marriages- What are their pros and cons?
  • Social sciences and humanities- How do they differ?
  • Understanding the economic and political issues impacting humanities studies
  • How does an individual’s behaviour affect society
  • How the Me Too movement affects the girl-child
  • Analyzing the United States’ humanities curriculum
  • Factors inhibiting anthropological linguistics’ study
  • How Chinese culture and Italian fashion connect
  • How the Neolithic revolution affects humans’ cognitive abilities
  • Ethical issues relating to media advertising
  • Investigate the relationship between the law-making process and bureaucracy
  • How dual-nationality affects political views
  • Investigate the US executive power
  • Describe humanities origin in Classical Greek

These are some of the research topics for humanities research papers. As the name suggests, extensive research is necessary to draft a quality paper. Our expert writers can help you to write a custom research paper cheap and fast. 

Good Humanities Paper Topics

High school, university, and college students need good topics to impress teachers and earn top grades in their classes. Here are such ideas.

  • How the law-making process relates to bureaucracy
  • Why public choice awareness is vital
  • A historical analysis of the Indian migrant workers
  • How the Neolithic revolution affects cognitive abilities
  • Should America implement more restrictive laws about gun ownership?
  • Ethical issues surrounding media advertising
  • Why youth culture is complex for older generations to understand
  • LGBT people and straight people’s rights- How do they compare?
  • The absence of face-to-face interactions- Does it cause misunderstanding in communications on social media?
  • Why democracy fails- Iraq case study
  • What causes the Israel-Palestinian wars?
  • Spirituality and gender- Is there a connection?
  • Is the world hauling toward a Third World War?
  • Discuss relevant anthropology issues
  • Hinduism- Does it affect Indian socio-political development?
  • Factors affecting the 21st-century teenagers
  • Social media’s role in shaping people’s perspectives
  • Factors affecting social interactions and their changes among communities
  • Why the world struggles with the inequality problem to date
  • Discuss the ageing notion among different societies

Pick a title in this category and develop it via research. Nevertheless, ensure it enables you to answer the question your educator poses.

Humanities Project Ideas

Did the educator ask you to pick a topic for your humanities project? If so, here are humanities topics for research projects to consider.

  • The role of funding in education
  • What limits collision admission policies?
  • Is doping prevalent in sports?- Explain why
  • Investigating prisoners’ life and prisons
  • Macroscopic trends- Analysis of cultural change
  • Digital archives- A textual analysis
  • Why pedagogy lacks a focus
  • Information access issues in society
  • How online publishing affects humanities
  • Tools for cultural analysis- Why they are vital for humanities
  • Doctors’ role in assisted suicide
  • Violence perpetrators and administrators’ role in campus
  • Capital punishment and its ethical downside
  • Legal drinking age- Who should determine it?
  • Why achieving modesty is difficult nowadays.
  • Crisis- When international intervention is justified
  • African socialism- How it compares between the 1950 and 1980s
  • Lessons learned from Europe and US immigrant crisis
  • Comparing and contrasting foreign policies in the UK and China
  • Should governments ban alcohol and beer advertisements?

Please choose a topic from this list and develop it via extensive research. Ensure that your paper has relevant information to impress the educator.

Easy Humanities Topics Ideas

Maybe you’re searching for an easy idea to explore in your paper. In that case, consider these ideas for your essay.

  • Investigating age and changes in body image
  • How social environment prompts people to relocate to cities
  • Deviance development among urban youths
  • Does reading more books make people less or more social?
  • Illegal immigrants- Should governments make them legal citizens?
  • How does gender-based violence affect kids’ personalities
  • Sociological perspectives of child development and interracial adoption
  • Parental control limits on child’s personality
  • Investigate the adverse effects of teenage pregnancies
  • Analyze war negotiations strategies- Provide 20th-century case studies

These are relatively easy topics to consider for academic papers. Nevertheless, they still require some research.

Arts and Humanities Research Topics

Are you interested in humanities and arts research topics? If so, this list has some ideas worth exploring.

  • Contemporary art and the feminist movement
  • Art education- Why it helps learners think differently
  • Advertisements- Should the audiences view them as modern art?
  • Mythology’s impact on Ancient Greece’s sculptures
  • Government accountability and democracy in the US
  • How did the cultural revolution affect the Chinese art
  • The second migration- How it affects Harlem Renaissance’s art
  • Sharing pieces of art and music online- Is it a legal practice?

Consider these titles if you want to write about art and humanities. However, prepare to spend sufficient time researching your topic before writing.

Medical Humanities Topics

Do you want to explore medical humanities in your research? If so, here are some interesting titles to consider for your essay and help you take the first step toward a good research paper done for you.

  • Does global warming cause tropical diseases?
  • Child vaccination- Should the government make it mandatory?
  • How exercising can affect a person’s life negatively
  • Is using animals in drug tests a good idea?
  • Should governments limit drug tests on humans?
  • Is the world ready for another pandemic?
  • How the world managed the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Medical research- The threats and their mitigation
  • Should hospitals test individuals with mental issues in or outside their immediate communities?
  • Doctors should provide medical assistance against the guardian’s wishes
  • Parents should regulate social media use to prevent or reduce the addiction impacts
  • How the COVID-19 pandemic prompted society to rethink global healthcare coordination

These are good humanities research topics that touch on the medical field. Nevertheless, they also require some research to write high-quality papers.

Topics in Digital Humanities

Digital humanities are also worth exploring in academic papers. Here are exciting titles to consider in this category.

  • Printing press history and its role in information dissemination
  • Art presentation in America during the digital age
  • The information technology age and humanities studies
  • How video games contribute to violence in modern society
  • Is digital technology a bane, or does it provide an improved life?
  • The influence of modern gadgets on individuals’ mental health
  • Social media and its impact on people’s lives
  • Technology and modern devices- How they affect relationships

After extensive research, these are some of the best topics worth writing humanities papers about in college. However, every student should choose a title according to guidelines from their teacher or professor.

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120 Original Humanities Topics To Write Best Essay

humanities topics

There are several interesting humanities topics for students to explore. Suppose you’re studying anthropology, cultural studies, or anything in history, you will need humanities project ideas that could boost your creativity while searching for research ideas or writing your paper or project. Topics in humanities are also essential depending on your career interest as a lawyer.

Finding the creativity needed to spur project humanity essay topics for your work is often difficult. You need to think in-depth, refer to your notes, and spend hours online for original topic ideas. Whether you’re a high school, college, MBA, or Ph.D. student, this article is for you.

How To Write Good Humanities Essay

Sometimes, even as a writer, it’s hard to make your paperwork the best at one go. You need the best strategies to create an excellent essay or report, even after gaining humanities essay topics ideas.

If you need to finalize if you’ve done right by what you’ve written, ask these questions after reading your draft:

  • Is my topic broad enough? You need to consider this if you have a broad topic. You’d want to break it down into smaller parts and simplify it. For example, suppose your essay is about how technology has affected communications, break the topic into two subtopics: traditional communication methods and the role of major social media platforms.
  • Is my topic too narrow? If your topic is too narrow, ask yourself if there are other ways of looking at your subject from other perspectives and include them.
  • Is my paper organized in the most logical order? Now is the time to look at the overall organization of your paper if you’ve read through your rough draft and gained feedback from an editor. A good way to do this is by using a topic sentence for each paragraph which leads to the next question:
  • Does each paragraph have a clear topic sentence? Topic sentences are an essential part of any paragraph. They let the reader know your main point and guide them through each sentence, ensuring that it fits in with your topic. A good topic sentence is clear, concise, and specific and comes in the first paragraph. It also states the main idea of a paragraph.
  • Proofread your essay: Proofread your essay for capitalization, grammar, and spelling errors. If you’re unsure how to spell a word, use a dictionary or a spell checker. It will help if you consider using synonyms in place of common words where appropriate. This can help to create more interesting sentences.
  • Take a break and reread your essay: The best way to improve your essay is by taking a break and then rereading it with fresh eyes. Take some time to rest, do something else, take a walk — whatever helps you clear your head and come back to your essay with a new perspective.
  • Reread it as a reader would: If you still don’t know how to fix the issues in your essay, try “rereading” it as if you were an outside reader. This will allow you to see any inconsistencies you may have missed earlier.
  • Ask someone else for help: If none of these suggestions worked for improving your essay and making it better than before, ask someone else for help. Let this person read because they might spot things you’ve never discovered before. Take this feedback and see how you can implement the suggestions.

You can use or rephrase any of these topics for your next thesis. You will also learn how you can improve a bad essay at the end of these original humanities topics ideas:

Humanities Essay Topics

You may have already guessed that humanities is an interdisciplinary field. There are many disciplines within the humanities, each with a specific focus. You can brainstorm with the following ideas:

  • Examine the challenges that lead to migration
  • Does reading more books reduce socialization?
  • Argue why immigrants should be legalized as citizens?
  • What are the consequences of domestic violence on children?
  • How does domestic violence between couples affect a conservative environment?
  • Discuss why domestic violence is a norm in many Muslim societies
  • With reference to three wars, what is the core agenda of war?
  • How does childhood influence a child’s personality?
  • Explain when teachers and parents should teach sex education
  • Discuss the challenges of child marriages and examine if poverty is a core reason.
  • Analyze the best ways to tell kids about sex
  • Explain why people around the world should care about Ukrainians
  • Explore the arguments in support of isolating a country because they’re insistent on keeping nuclear weapons
  • What are the factors responsible for social and political backwardness in developing nations?
  • Comment on the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing and what should’ve happened to the US
  • Comment on whether or not any country or body can check the US government’s excesses
  • What is your comment on UN peacekeeping missions in Africa and Asia in the past decade?
  • What are your thoughts about US withdrawal from Afghanistan a year ago
  • Would you say the UN has failed in the Palestine Question?
  •  Would you say the world wars and the Cold War brought global order or challenged existing systems?

Humanities Argumentative Essay Topics

Humanity is a course that requires an argument, opinions, and creativity banters. You also need to be knowledgeable to be capable of presenting controversial topics in the best ways. You can source inspiration for your next paper from these humanities paper topics:

  • Is war a prerequisite for peace in modern societies?
  • Are humans responsible for climate change?
  • Elon Musk once said that his money could not solve world hunger; what do you think are the intricacies affecting the resolution of global hunger?
  • Men don’t deserve paternity leave: here is why.
  • Freelancers should be placed on pension in the companies they work with
  • The tax system is unfair and corrupt.
  • Should people adopt cryptocurrency to avoid taxes?
  • Is automation a tragic invention?
  • Is it ethical to use animals in research?
  • Are smartphones a desperate invention, and do they endanger us?
  • Should the government keep tracking and monitoring humans?
  • Should torture to considered a norm for criminals?
  • Should citizens be allowed to own guns, especially in societies with an active police force?
  • Are artists the mirrors of their countries?
  • Should developing countries be kept in debt?
  • Is the death penalty an effective judgment?
  • Gun violence is a consequence of popular access to guns: discuss
  • Men should use condoms: discuss
  • Those that don’t support abortion want to control women.
  • Beauty pageants and shows are exploitative, and they’re right to be so: discuss.

Humanities Research Topics

You need to let your mind wander and muse around various humanities topics to find the best for your next essay. As a required field that deals with humans and how the world works, here are research topics that may pique your interest and challenge your beliefs:

  • An in-depth assessment of polygamy in America
  • An in-depth assessment of polyandry in (country of your choice)
  • What do religions say about the afterlife, and what do atheists say?
  • Examinations are more of a trap than an intelligence assessment
  • Rationalize the heat toward the LGBTQ community
  • Marginalized people will remain marginalized, and here is why
  • Euthanasia is a human right and should not be questioned: discuss
  • Why there should be restrictions on what teachers teach students in school
  • Here is how to reduce healthcare costs in the US
  • The main challenges of pandemics
  • Do NGOs play a major role in developing countries or contribute to destroying them?
  • Statement: rich countries are not obligated to help developing countries
  • Organ transplant services: an examination on how crime has infiltrated the industry
  • Reasons why college athletes deserve compensation
  • How a reduction in childbirth will not (or will) end the climate crisis.

Interesting Humanities Topics

Humanity essay topics are also expected to be interesting and not necessarily humorous. They must be insightful and smart in the delivery too. Here are original humanities essay topics to impress your teachers, professors, and colleagues in class:

  • Comment on music and criticism
  • A comment on the study of humanities
  • The science field is better than the humanities
  • Obesity should be a problem for any thinking parent
  • What is the Enlightenment Age all about?
  • The role of predictions in how the world works
  • The impact of labor on politics
  • The most active members of the societies are the busiest and play less role in their politics
  • Comment on the black lives matter movement
  • Prostitution should be made a job
  • Prostitutes are endangered species, but they’re humans
  • Laws protect some people yet endanger some who are not even criminals
  • An opinion on the case of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard
  • Are activists the true voice of their movements?
  • How fashion trends affect rationality in the world.

Humanities Project Ideas

Humanity is a vast subject, and you need to be informed before embarking on any projects. You can source ideas from these 15 humanities topics ideas:

  • How does social media affect society and vice versa?
  • Bullying is like terrorism: discuss
  • Relationship between food and culture
  • Relationship between food and religious beliefs/biases
  • Is social media activism effective?
  • Account for the start and finish of the #MeToo movement
  • Examine the nature of human and animals sacrifice
  • Discuss cultural stereotypes and the role of superstitions
  • Lessons about migration and its effects
  • How suicide is becoming a culture
  • Sexist advertisements and how they shape gender narratives
  • India and its popular sexual violence culture
  • China and its popular human rights abuses
  • The role of the US in human rights abuse in Libya
  • The role of the World Bank in the poverty of selected developing countries.

Topics In Digital Humanities

Digital humanity is a growing field that is constantly evolving and changing. It’s a way to learn about technology and discover how it affects or helps people. Here are a few research topics around digital humanities:

  • Technology and its influence on the study of humanities
  • How technology controls the future
  • The role of online casino games in socialization
  • The role of gaming in creating an idle American youth population
  • The challenges of remote work and productivity
  • An overview of the printing press and present technology
  • The destructive power of America, thanks to technology
  • An in-depth look into how technology shapes the century
  • How humans interact with technology or robotics
  • The perspectives of Elon Musk on technology
  • Communications and how technology could make the world unsafe in the future
  • Videogames and violence: a critical review
  • A critical review of the effect of online gaming and people’s health
  • Identify why millennials fear missing out on technology
  • How significant is TikTok in modern marketing strategies?

Humanities And Arts Research Topics

Exploring the history of humanities is a fascinating subject. Both music, art, and culture contributed to the growth witnessed, and here are a few topics that might pique your interest when you begin your custom essay writing :

  • An overview of afrobeat in the international music industry
  • How music is being used as propaganda
  • The role of Caribbean music in understanding the history
  • What’s the relationship between art and mystery
  • Books with objectionable words should be banned: discuss
  • Liberal laws are not liberal because they don’t protect some people: discuss
  • The influence of cultural revolutions in selected countries
  • The impact of advertisement on people’s perception of the world
  • The role of popular media in advocating feminism
  • The role of music in promoting violence.

Medical Humanities Essay Topics

The medical part of humanities is sensitive and can sometimes be controversial. This is because you’ll attempt debating what’s ethical and what should be done. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Doctors support patient request for euthanasia out of pity
  • Nurses and the concept of sympathy
  • Medical ethics and practices triumph racial and religious differences: discuss
  • Should doctors report their clients to authorities for putting their health in jeopardy?
  • Doctors are responsible for drug abuse: discuss
  • The vulnerabilities of healthcare software and why they shouldn’t be used
  • Should drug prices increase because demand increases?
  • Every medical practitioner should be unique with their treatments: discuss
  • An overview of different medical beliefs in three countries
  • An analysis of unethical beliefs and bias in global health care.

Get Essay Help Today

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What does it mean, what does it take, and why is it important to understand climate change?

What kind of cognitive state occupies the central stage in our interest in the phenomenon of climate change? What exactly is required to achieve this cognitive state? This paper addresses these questions from a purely conceptual footing by delving into the recent philosophical literature on the nature of understanding. As it will be argued, given the cognitive benefits associated with this state and the (mostly) practical concerns underpinning it in this context, understanding is what we are after, at a cognitive level, when we are interested in climate change. Knowing this is important because it can be used to further determine (in a purely conceptual way) what is required to achieve this cognitive state as well as who can achieve it. Much of the discussion in this paper is devoted to showing that understanding climate change is a highly demanding cognitive state that can be achieved to different degrees and that requires different things depending on what we take ‘climate’ and ‘climate change’ to mean. The most important implication of this discussion concerns the level of understanding of this phenomenon that is achievable by laypeople: even though gaining a basic degree of understanding of climate change isn’t above laypeople’s capacities, when it comes to making the connection between climate change and the kind of phenomena that can negatively impact our society (e.g., extreme weather events), laypeople cannot do better than to trust the scientists.

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Condensed matter is one of the largest and most prolific areas of physics, but it looms small in the public imagination. In this Comment, historian Joseph D. Martin argues that its relationship with technology might be to blame.

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Codes of conduct should help scientists navigate societal expectations

Scientists are increasingly expected to incorporate socio-political considerations in their work, for instance by anticipating potential socio-political ramifications. While this is aimed at promoting pro-social values, critics argue that the desire to serve society has led to self-censorship and even to the politicization of science. Philosophers of science have developed various strategies to distinguish between influences of values that safeguard the integrity and freedom of research from those impinging on them. While there is no consensus on which strategy is the best, they all imply some trade-offs between social desirability and the aims of science. If scientists are to incorporate socio-political considerations, they should receive relevant guidance and training on how to make these trade-offs. Codes of conduct for research integrity as professional codes of ethics can help scientists navigate evolving professional expectations. Unfortunately, in their current status, these codes fail to offer guidance on how to weigh possibly conflicting values against the aims of science. The new version of the European Code of Conduct (2023) is a missed opportunity in this regard. Future codes should include guidance on the trade-offs that professional scientists face when incorporating socio-political considerations. To increase effectiveness, codes should increase the attention that scientists have for such trade-offs, make sure scientists construe them in appropriate ways, and help scientists understand the motivations behind pro-social policies. Considering the authority of these documents—especially the European one—amending codes of conduct can be a promising starting point for broader changes in education, journal publishing, and science funding.

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Baylor Graduate Writing Center

Helping Grad Students Become Better Writers

research paper humanities topics

Systematic Strategies for Humanities Research-Paper Writing: Part One

By Sørina Higgins, Consultant

Hello, fellow grad students in the humanities! It’s just about time to start thinking about those big end-of-term papers you’ll write for most of your grad classes, those 20- to 30-pagers that hover somewhere between an exhausting school assignment and the draft of a professional article. Well, here are some suggestions for you to consider applying to the process of researching and writing those seminar papers. Hopefully these ideas will be useful for you whether you’re about to write your first one or your last one ever. Either way, congrats! This is a big deal; you’re about to produce some original research to add to the scholarly conversation, and it’s a chance to really dig into doing what you love, the thing you came to grad school for. I’ll try to help smooth the way here so that you don’t have to figure out the research process for yourself. And feel free to add additional strategies in the comments below!

First, plan ahead. Set aside a day well before the deadline (at least a month; six weeks or two months is better) in order to start preliminary research and order books. Don’t panic; you needn’t begin writing the paper at this point, but you do need to provide enough lead time for getting materials through interlibrary loan , and you probably want to at least glance over the most relevant and/or recent scholarship to make sure someone else hasn’t done exactly what you want to do. At this point, you can do a few of the steps below. You don’t need to do all of them now, and you can probably get away with never doing some of them, but the more of this background research you complete early on, the smoother the writing process will be and the better the final product.

  • Choose authors, texts, themes, time periods, events, or issues of interest, as relevant to the project and your field. Make sure to read and reread the assignment prompt carefully and ask your professor for clarification if needed. But here’s something to consider: I don’t think “choosing a topic” really works for serious research. Instead, I recommend picking a field of interest, narrowing it down considerably, and honing your focus until you develop a Research Question .
  • Crafting your Research Question is an important step that many inexperienced scholars omit or rush past. The better your initial Research Question, the more successful and less stressful the whole process will be. There are lots of reasons for this: Your question guides the type of research you’ll do, what sources you’ll investigate, the kind of research design or method you’ll employ, even the scope and structure of the paper. So don’t “pick a topic”; take the time to develop a truly workable question instead. There is lots of advice available about the characteristics of good and bad Research Questions ; here are a few I’ve found particularly helpful. The question must be researchable by you and must fit into the rest of this semester—so there probably isn’t time for extensive field work or archival research. It must be a fact-finding question, not an ethical or interpretive question at this stage. It must be a question to which you do not currently know the answer, but which has high stakes for your field. Take your time on this step, consulting with faculty or advanced students and browsing around in publications in your field.
  • Okay, once you’ve drafted a solid Research Question, it’s time to start the initial research. See if there is a recent “state of the field” article, bibliography, or some other resource that covers what’s being published right now in your area. If you don’t readily find such a thing, ask the professor to recommend one. The more focused this can be on works that potentially answer your Research Question, the better. Even just reading through the titles of the most recent articles and books in your field can give you a sense of what’s being done now and what the current concerns are.
  • For studies involving literature and other print-heavy fields (English, Theatre, History, Religion, American Studies, Music, etc.) it’s a good idea to find the best, most recent bibliography of your target authors’ works and to find out which are the official editions of these authors’ works. You can usually discover this by looking in the latest issues of the top journal(s) in this field. If you don’t readily find out, ask the professor which ones are currently the most acceptable. It would be a shame to write your whole Thomas Malory paper, say, using Vinaver only to find out that your target journal—or worse yet, your professor!—favors Field. Horrors.
  • Now you might want to compile a list of the relevant primary sources in chronological order. Hopefully this already exists, in the form of a handy bibliography. But if not, make one yourself—then narrow it down. There’s no way you’re going to read all that in the next few weeks. No, seriously. You won’t.
  • Similarly, compile a list of the relevant secondary sources, but in reverse chronological order. While you’re at it, do a quick check to find out what your professor has written (if they haven’t already assigned their Complete Works to you in their seminar. Yup. It happens). Do they have anything relevant on the subject? If so, be sure to read it and cite it if possible. Anyway, back to this reverse chronological order thing. See, the idea is that you’ll want to have a general sense of both what’s hot in your field and also what the classic, game-changing, most-cited academic works are. If you start reading (skimming, really, or maybe even just reading abstracts) with the newest stuff, you’ll accomplish that first goal of seeing what’s hot right away, and pretty soon you’ll start seeing certain Names repeated over and over. Those are the Founding Folks of your field; get their works. Have a glance inside. Cite them a teeny bit. That’s cocktail party cred right there.
  • Take a breath. What have you learned? Do you get a sense of the most pressing concerns in your field right now? Do you need to revise your Research Question at this point? Take a break. Let it all settle for a while. Then come back and cut your lists in half. For real. You still won’t read all of that, so cut out whatever is not absolutely necessary, and then some of what’s left. Now acquire the rest of it. Check books out of the library, order things via ILL, download or print articles, and that sort of thing. Somewhere in this initial researching phase, make an appointment with your subject-area’s liaison librarian to get assistance with locating anything you’ve missed or with filling in gaps.
  • As you work on this initial research process, put everything in a Zotero folder. Researching, writing, and citing are one integrated activity, so always keep track of sources and citations as you go.

TL;DR: Read, read, read! Come up with a research  question , rather than a research topic; the narrower, the better. Know the foundational texts related to your question. Check out the bibliography of related article from a journal that you really like. Compile a list of primary texts you need, then narrow to the essentials. Do the same with secondary texts, but prioritize by the most recent scholarship. Do preliminary searches and skims, then revise your lists again. Keep track of everything in a Zotero folder.

Tune in next week when we talk about actually beginning to write!

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110 Fascinating Humanities Research Topics and Ideas

Table of Contents

Humanities research is essential to understand different cultures, explore human behavior, and improve society. Typically, humanities is a broad academic discipline that focuses on the various aspects of human society and culture including philosophy, literature, art, history, languages, and religion. So, it might be difficult to identify one perfect topic to successfully perform humanities research. However, this problem can be fixed easily. In this blog, we have published a list of the latest humanities research topics and ideas. Additionally, we have shared certain tactics to find a good topic for humanities research.

If you struggle to spot an appropriate humanities research topic, take a look at this blog. Here, you will get exclusive ideas for humanities research.

Tips for Selecting a Humanities Research Topic

With the right humanities research topic, you can engage and impress the target audience. In case, you are confused about how to choose a perfect humanities research topic, follow these tips.

  • Pick a topic that is related to your passion. Some humanities areas to examine include philosophy, anthropology, political science, sociology, and others.
  • Choose a topic that is feasible to investigate within the allotted time and has a broad research scope.
  • Find out gaps in the existing literature on a topic. This will provide your research with a unique perspective and enable you to make a valuable contribution to the field.
  • Concentrate on a topic that contains a variety of reliable sources to gather references and data.
  • Select a topic that aligns with your research methodology. It can be either qualitative or quantitative.
  • Think about the importance of the topic you select. When you choose a topic with a broader scope and significance, you can make your research more meaningful.
  • Consult your academic advisor, mentor, or professor for assistance and advice. They can provide useful insights into new research topics , feedback on your ideas, and recommendations for further investigation.

List of the Best Humanities Research Topics

Humanities Research Topics

The following are some excellent humanities topics that you might research and write about.

Interesting Humanities Research Topics

When it comes to writing a humanities research paper, always take into consideration a topic interesting to you so that you may enjoy the study process. Listed below are some humanities topics that might be exciting for you to analyze and write about.

  • Explore the role of women in the French Revolution.
  • Discuss the philosophy of art and aesthetics.
  • Explain the influence of postmodernism on literature.
  • Discuss the impact of language on thoughts and perception.
  • Examine the link between environment and culture.
  • Explore the use of technology in archaeology.
  • Discuss the cultural significance of Jazz Music.
  • Explain the role of gender and sexuality in popular culture.
  • Examine the relationship between religion and politics.
  • Discuss the cultural significance of tattoos.
  • Explain the cultural importance of food.
  • Explore the role of art in social justice movements.
  • Discuss the history and cultural significance of street art and graffiti.
  • Analyze the role of museums in shaping cultural identity.
  • Examine the impact of colonialism on indigenous cultures.

Captivating Humanities Research Ideas

To grab the attention of the target audience and make them read your humanities research paper, it is essential to select an engaging topic. These are some captivating humanities research ideas for you to get started.

  • Discuss the impact of the Cold War on American Society.
  • Explore the concept of Justice in political philosophy.
  • Conduct a comparative study of world religions.
  • Analyze the impact of globalization on cultural identity.
  • Examine the impact of music on emotional and cognitive processes.
  • Explore communication in an intercultural context.
  • Discuss the influence of globalization on local cultures and traditions.
  • Describe the use of music in cultural and religious rituals.
  • Explore the art of storytelling in various cultures.
  • Analyze how racism affects a family unit.
  • Discuss the influence of Eastern philosophy on Western cultures.
  • Explore the conflict between social order and religion.
  • Discuss the impact of television on modern culture.
  • Explain how modern photography has changed the culture.
  • Examine the impact of the theater of the absurd on modern culture.

Also Read: 190 Unique Philosophy Research Topics

Popular Humanities Research Ideas

You may also craft your humanities research paper on any of the frequently discussed study ideas that were shared below. But while you deal with a popular research topic, examine the topic from various angles and generate fresh insights for your readers.

  • Discuss the cultural importance of the Renaissance.
  • Explain how race is represented in literature.
  • Examine the link between media and culture.
  • Discuss the role of film in shaping cultural identity.
  • Explore the process of reincarnation in different religions.
  • Determine the cultural differences between Latin American countries.
  • Analyze the impact of graphic novels on literacy.
  • Discuss the impact of animal rights on American culture.
  • Present the representation of humanities and culture in the Bible.
  • Explain how environmental surroundings affect the culture.

Unique Humanities Research Paper Topics

If you are curious to make your humanities research paper stand top in your class, then work on any of the new topics from an unexplored research area of humanities. The following are some unique humanities research topics that might be helpful for you in crafting a brilliant academic paper and filling the knowledge gaps.

  • Analyze the social and economic impact of the Industrial Revolution.
  • Explain how women are portrayed in media and popular culture.
  • Examine the impact of community volunteer programs on youth.
  • Analyze the influence of the Islamic region on American culture.
  • Present the different definitions of Freedom across the world.
  • Examine the influence of science on humanities over the centuries.
  • Explain how different cultures across the world perceive and handle death.
  • Explore how humanity was represented in the art of the Renaissance.
  • Discuss the interesting aspects of European culture.
  • Discuss the political and social implications of design.

Top Humanities Research Topics for Students

Are you looking for the best humanities research questions for your assignments? Explore the list published here. In the list, particularly for students, we have shared some exclusive humanities research ideas suitable for composing a top-quality thesis.

  • Explain the role of theater in social and political change.
  • Discuss the role of empathy in literature and art.
  • Present a detailed analysis of global humanities.
  • Explain how Asian literature has entered American culture.
  • Study the nature of consciousness from the aspect of the Buddhist philosophy
  • Explain how Ashes emotionally transformed the sport on two different continents
  • Discuss the stylistic peculiarities of a particular fashion designer of your choice
  • Examine the impact of online publishing on humanities
  • Explore the field of Geography and its relationship to humanities
  • Explain how to distinguish humanities from social science.

Latest Humanities Research Ideas

In your humanities research paper, you may write about any of the current issues that exist in society. Listed below are a few trending humanities topics that will be useful for you in writing a well-structured research paper.

  • Discuss the ethics of Artificial Intelligence.
  • Examine the impact of social media on self-expression.
  • Present the history of computing in the humanities.
  • Explore the future of humanity in the extraterrestrial world.
  • Explain how the Gothic genre has captured new readers.
  • Discuss the influence of the Harlem Renaissance on African American culture.
  • Explain how the instability present within the political system affects the movie industry
  • Discuss the factors that cause philosophical anarchism.
  • Analyze the effects of cultural assimilation.
  • Explain how humanities influence the use of alternative medicines.

Research Topics on Humanities and Arts

In case, you are curious about conducting humanities research on any topic related to art, then the list suggested here might be useful to you. To make the research topic selection easier for you, here, we have published a list of outstanding research ideas on humanities and arts.

  • Examine the influence of the avant-garde on modern art.
  • Explore the cultural significance of ancient art.
  • Examine the impact of technology on contemporary art.
  • Discuss the influence of music on modern culture and society.
  • Explain how artists influence the war.
  • Examine the influence of the Beat Generation on modern art.
  • Explain how Japanese art influenced the country’s clothing.
  • Explore the influence of ancient art on current artistic trends.
  • Analyze the impact of the printing press on the spread of art.
  • Study religious influence in 19 th -century European art.

Digital Humanities Research Topics

Digital humanities refer to the study of humanities with computing. It involves studying digital technologies and their effects on culture and society as well as the humanities using digital tools and methodologies. The following are some digital humanities topics you may investigate about.

  • Examine the impact of digital technology on the humanities.
  • Discuss the ethics of digital humanities research.
  • Take a look at text mining and computational analysis in the humanities.
  • Explain how digital access to information affects culture.
  • Study ancient texts through digital technologies.
  • Explain how digital technologies help to archive archaeological data.
  • Explore the extent of the digital revolution in human society.
  • Examine the potential of digital academic data.
  • Analyze the future of global communication in the global world.
  • Explore the role of digital tools in mapping underground structures.

Also Read: 100 Excellent Medical Research Topics and Ideas

Medical Humanities Research Topics

Medical humanities combine medicine, humanities, and social sciences. It is a broad field of study that provides several opportunities for exploration. Here is a collection of medical humanities research topics that might be convenient for you to study and prepare a detailed dissertation.

  • Explore the use of humanities-based interventions in medical education.
  • Explain how medical theories have been represented in art.
  • Explore the role of narrative medicine in healthcare.
  • Evaluate how literature influences the use of marijuana for medical regions.
  • Explain how medical addictions are portrayed in literature
  • Investigate the rise of confidentiality agreements in the medical field.
  • Analyze Religious impact on the medical community.
  • Examine the impact art has had on growing the medical community
  • Compare Medical depictions in art versus religion.
  • Explore medical practices in the field of battle.

Informative Humanities Research Paper Topics

The humanities research paper that you compose should widen the knowledge of your readers. So, for your research purpose, give significance to any topic with an educational value. Listed below are some excellent humanities topics that will be helpful for you in drafting an informative research paper.

  • Analyze the representation of mental illness in literature and film.
  • What is the impact of social media on political activism and social movements?
  • Examine how environmental degradation affects cultural heritage and identity.
  • Evaluate the impact of technology on the music industry.
  • Curate an art exhibit examining the intersection of art and science.
  • Create a documentary on a historical event.
  • Explain how disability is represented in art and literature.
  • Examine the influence of architecture on social behavior.
  • Explore the relationship between fashion and identity.
  • Discuss the applications of queer theory in gender studies.

The Bottom Line

Humanities research will help you learn about yourself, your communities, and the world around you. Typically, humanities involve several impactful research topics and ideas related to fields such as art, philosophy, music, literature, and more. In your humanities research paper, you may explore any topics ranging from historical events and cultural traditions to modern social issues. When it is troublesome for you to identify a potential humanities research topic, explore the list of humanities research ideas suggested above, and from it pick any topic of your interest. You may also approach our humanities assignment experts for assistance with research paper topic selection, writing, and proofreading. As per your needs, our professionals will offer you excellent academic support and help you achieve the desired results.

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Top 100 Humanities Dissertation Topics Trending in 2021

  • August 8, 2021 August 8, 2021

Let us start with the simplest of all questions, that most of the students tend to overlook. What do we understand by the term ‘humanities’? Well, it is an academic discipline, connecting the branches of knowledge that are concerned with the human beings and their respective culture. The subject derives various critical and analytic methods of inquiry to appreciate human values and the unique ability of human spirit to predominantly express. 

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(since 2006)

The subject helps us understand fellow human beings through their histories, languages, and cultures.  The study of humanities helps the students to foster social justice and equality. The courses belongings to the subject tried to reason with the fact that how the people have tried to make spiritual, moral, and intellectual sense of the world. The pinpoint study of the subject helps in developing critical and well-informed citizens. The extent to which the students of humanities succeed in convincing the assignment evaluators, eventually decide their academic grade-sheets. The desire to fetch this competitive edge motivates the students to hire professional humanities assignment help .

research paper humanities topics

Introduction

Humanities is one of the leading subjects taught in prestigious institutions, universities, and colleges across the globe. Some of the most popular subjects of humanities majors include theology, archaeology, English, politics, religious studies, history, philosophy, sociology, anthropology, and art history. The popularity of these subjects is quite evident for us due to the fact that our writers receive dozens of assignment writing services requests for these subjects on a daily basis. Besides the subjects mentioned above, there are certain degrees in humanities that are widely termed as lucrative for money making. These subjects include elementary education, child and family studies, advertising, fashion design, etc.

The prima facie objective of sharing this list of top 100 humanities dissertations topics is to help students have a widespread range of options when it comes to assignment topic selection. As these assignments are extremely time oriented and irreparable in terms of deadline, the time energy and resources disposed on topic search and selection will never fetch us grade points (or even brownie points) in the eyes of the evaluator. A quick selection of the dissertation topic from the recommended list of titles always considered to be a smarter approach. 

While preparing the marathon list of humanities topics, we have emphasized to cover the topics from diverse numbers of streams to help students from maximum possible domains.   

Why Choosing the Right Humanities Assignment Topic is Important?

For the academics and research assignments of humanities that are meant to decide the course of our career, it is critical to land upon the right topic due to the following reasons –

  • To make the assignment submission process a unique one and eye-catchy to the assignment evaluators.
  • To increase the weight of the submitted assignment by dedicating the same to a trending topic to make the subject contemporary.
  • To explore the subjects and the titles that are revolutionary in terms of research and open new doors of future exploration on the same. 
  • The selection of the right title can make the writing process extremely conducive to the student, as he or she would be attending a topic having immense interest and well-versed clarity of the concept. 
  • It helps the student to settle with the topic for which he or she can easily access the authentic and resourceful database of information.

Our online assignment help can not only recommend the most rational and concrete humanities assignment topics, but also fulfill the requirements of submitting high quality work within a tight deadline. 

Confused with too many topics on history, and cannot decide the one to go with? Reach the below link to pick the best titles from the list prepared by the experts.

Must read: discover mankind with top 100 history dissertation topics for assignments, top 100 humanities dissertation topics to choose from in 2021.

Let us begin with the marathon list of dissertation topics in humanities to resolve your title selection conundrum on a priority basis –

  • The professionalization of the primary education program for students
  • What is the perception of the quality of life by the primary school pupils?
  • The potential in the out-of-school environment in the development of the pupils
  • The conditions for the development of Romany Pupils in the present school culture
  • What are the primary causes for the withdrawal of the individuals from the profession of teaching?
  • Inverted family socialization of children during early education
  • The entry of life coaching skills to preschool teachers to enhance their professional value
  • Grandparents substituting the role of the parents of the preschoolers
  • Educational games can become tools of enhancing learning abilities: Theory or practice?
  • An assessment of the link between the classroom quality and learning outcome in the kindergarten
  • An assessment of the implementation process of inclusive education in the United States
  • Factors affecting the decision to transfer the institutions of higher education outside the United States
  • Conventional v/s online education face-to-face for the adult learners:- Compare and contrast
  • Chinese study abroad to have a genuine excuse to travel: Discuss
  • How does operating as a taxi driver as well as navigating change the brain of a person?
  • To what extent can the reality television can turn out to be dis-empowering for the students?
  • The function of homework in developing the lives of the immigrant adolescents
  • The influence of the shocking behavior of the teachers in nurturing the creativity of the students
  • The determiners of flossing conduct in the college students
  • The classification of the drinking pattern in college-age population
  • Integrating computer into the curriculum- We cannot simply plug it in
  • The presumptions for a serious music-making hobby in the students of computer science
  • The challenges for adult graduates with learning technologies
  • The impact of the academic performance on the academic well-being of the adolescents
  • The impact of mathematics coaching on the self-esteem of the students
  • The influence of the Internet on the emotional maturity of the students
  • The academic achievements of the students who decide to choose a career stream in teaching
  • Students are more prone to finish the homework given by the good-looking professors: Discuss
  • Informal learning in the rural areas via social networks
  • Edublogging for the professors: The social networking of educationists
  • Does the learning existentialism results in suicides?
  • Is it feasible to curtail summer learning loss without consent from the students?
  • Can we actually reject classical math as well as proceed with it at the same time?
  • Students are less likely to believe something is unusual when their teachers act like it is not weird
  • Is holding a degree in humanities absolutely useless? What are the key career prospects?
  • Application of electronic games in the museums can turn out to be a smart education tool
  • Brainwashing people swiftly can make them immune to it
  • Creativity is a kind of fantasy that is nothing more than auto-hypnosis
  • Literature analysis is a sham, because we will never learn what a long dead author wished to convey in his or her book
  • Surfing out the web for 10 years equivalent to a college degree
  • Positive outlook to school can enhance academic performance, but the students doubt it
  • Sex education is more complex and stressful to the teachers than the students: Discuss
  • The stigma of being a single parent. Discuss with examples
  • How the quality of family life influence the parent-child relationships?
  • Empowerment of women in Saudi Arabia in 2000s: The challenges and the breakthroughs
  • Alcohol addiction for a long-term and the self-perception in the young adults
  • Adoption and its impact on the parent-child relationships
  • The comparison of traditions associated to family dinners in the US and the UK
  • How the influence of social pressure is bringing change in the behavior of the adolescents?
  • The impact of the emo culture on the suicide rates in the high school students
  • The rates of secularization of the elderly individuals residing in rural and urban areas: A case analysis
  • The quality of life for the transgenders in an open and a closed society: A comparative study
  • The arms race of the 21 st century: The present and the future
  • A comparative study of the anti-nuclear movements in Japan and Germany in the 21 st century
  • How limited access to technology is affecting the performance rates of teenagers in impoverished societies?
  • Performance rates of the teenagers in schools from low-income neighborhoods: Boston schools case study
  • Discuss design in the form of an art
  • The philosophy of design
  • The history of design during the dark ages
  • The history of design during the middle ages
  • The history of design during the Renaissance
  • The history of design during the French Revolution
  • Discuss the components of home interior designing
  • Discuss the components of toy designing
  • Discuss the components of car designing
  • Discuss the stylistic peculiarities of a particular fashion designer of your choice
  • Web designing: A modern-day quintessence of design
  • Discuss the political and social implications of design
  • The origin of communism and its association to Stendhal
  • The association between literature and politics during the 19 th century
  • An assessment of the artists and the art during the times of war
  • How the modern art is related to the American suffering?
  • Analyze how racism affects a family unit?
  • Is it true that a democratic political model can influence a capitalist society? If yes, then to how much extent?
  • Socioeconomic development: The impact of major sociological dimensions over the progress of a society
  • Societal beliefs and values: The impact of the corporate social responsibility
  • Human social behavioral approach is extremely complex: Evaluating the failure of the cognitive modules in assessing the human behavior
  • The mechanism study of the neural development in the form of information source for the early cognition
  • The crucial traits and the cognitive factors influencing the development of the creativity in the form of a multi-faceted propensity
  • The Great Depression: The assessment of the strategies that could have resulted in a better solution
  • The situational factors that lead to the Second World War and the most possible ways through which it could have been resolved easily
  • How does the instability existing within the political system impact the movie industry?
  • How did the political makeshifts reflected in Germany through German cinema?
  • How did the political makeshifts reflected in France through French cinema?
  • How did the political makeshifts reflected in Italy through Italian cinema?
  • An assessment of the factors that resulted in the beginning of the Cold War
  • How did the decades of the Cold War between the USA and the USSR changed the geopolitical equations of South-Asia?
  • From social media post to global mass movement: Case analysis of #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo
  • How did the Biblical Stand prepared the cultural outlook of the masses on the subjects like sensuality and sexuality?
  • The causes and the effects of the Nigerian Fulani Herdsmen Crisis
  • Rewriting the role of women in the history of Ghana during 1950 to 1966
  • The history of the Ashes and how it emotionally transformed the sport in two different continents?
  • Will the Central-South Asia to become the next epicenter of refugee crisis? Discuss it from the perspective of the current Afghan crisis
  • Are data the new weapon? Discuss it from the viewpoint of the Cyber warfare that countries conduct on one another for geopolitical gains
  • The Third World War would revolve around the scarcity of water. Discuss
  • Preserving the historical heritage and worth of ancient languages: Discuss from the case analysis of Sanskrit
  • Distinguish between the classical music and hip-hop music
  • Discuss the nature of consciousness from the viewpoint of the Buddhist philosophy
  • The future of humanity in an extraterrestrial world- Discuss
  • Are you living out the life of your dreams? Which actions actually made you feel the most passionate and alive?

The best thing about these humanities titles is that their utility is not confined to your dissertation help requirements only. These titles can wisely be used for the topic selection requirements for other assignment writing formats as well, including case study help , essay help , research paper writing help , or thesis help . We encourage students to refer the list for their humanities homework requirements related to all kinds of assignment writing formats.

Your decision on the selection of literature dissertation topic could either make or break the homework submission efforts. Check the below article to pick from the titles strongly recommended by the top university professors.

Must read: top 50 literature dissertation topics prevalent in the year 2021.

Humanities is one of the principal subjects for study that occasionally unable to get its due credit. The subject is a beacon of an immense numbers of career opportunities waiting to get explored. The competitive edge that quality based online homework help can offer to the students could help them excel in multiple career streams right away. Consistent and timely consultation from the experts can make sure that you pass out your course in humanities with a highly impressive and decorated grade-sheet. It simply helps to beat out the competition and stay miles ahead in the race of well-deserved career opportunities.

Our agency is the flag-bearer of preeminent assignment writing services for the last 15 years. Our 500+ in-house assignment writers have submitted 15,000+ assignments during this time and helped immense number of students voyage to the shores of success. Wish to join the league of the most privileged students of humanities worldwide? Visit Humanity help and order paid assignment help in humanities from the most respected and acclaimed writers at the most reasonable prices ever!

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  • Step 1: Exploring an idea
  • Step 2: Finding background info.
  • Step 3: Finding Print/E-Books
  • Step 4: Finding Articles (Current Research)
  • Step 5: Evaluating your sources
  • Step 6: Citing your sources
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  • Research in the Humanities
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Researching in the Humanities

The fields in the Humanities discipline generally include the visual and performing arts, philosophy, literature, religion, history, languages, art history, and classics.  Although research methods differ among the Humanities, the Social Sciences, and the Sciences, any research project in any discipline starts with curiosity and a hypothesis.  Often research topics are interdisciplinary and may include multiple subject areas and methods from more than just one discipline.

When beginning a research project in the humanities, you must develop a deep knowledge base in a subject area, choose original sources to examine, locate and evaluate sources that also explore your areas of interest, and then come to your own original conclusions. Libraries can help you find the material you need to get started.  The research guides listed on the right are created by WUSTL Subject Librarians.  Subject Librarians have expertise in both searching techniques and academic fields, and their online guides suggest resources for the different phases of the research process: 1) Use background sources to establish your knowledge base.  These could be subject encyclopedias, key works in a field, bibliographies, etc. 2) Select original sources, commonly referred to as primary sources, for your analysis.  Primary sources are simply original works, e.g., novels, photographs, diaries, correspondence, advertisements, eyewitness accounts. 3) Find articles, reviews, and books that analyze primary sources.  These are known as secondary sources. Then, synthesize all this information with your own thinking and draw your original conclusions, thus creating new research in the field.

If you need additional assistance, please reach out to one of the Subject Librarians.

  • Find a Subject Librarian This is a list of the Subject Librarians by academic subject.

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HumSS Research Topics – Humanities & Social Sciences Topics

Main Photo About HumSS Research Topics

Humss (Humanities & Social Sciences) is an interesting field of study featuring college courses like Journalism, Communication Arts, and Education. Research projects for humss revolve around intellect, change, societal issues, and human conditions. Finding humss research topics is not as hard as it seems. For instance, you should know that research topics for humss differ from science topics because scholars are more interested in questions than answers. Also, your topics should be interesting and controversial to capture your readers. Choosing the right research topic about humss will simplify finding content and buy research paper .

Exciting Research Topic about Humss Strand

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Humss strand is one of the courses offered to students who want to pursue college degrees in education, liberal arts, or other social sciences. Choose any of the exciting topics below for your high school humss research project:

  • The impact of aging on social interactions
  • Anti-vaccination is the latest trending social movement
  • Remote working is the latest trend in the corporate world
  • What is the root cause of social media addiction?
  • Is there a valid connection between social class and success?
  • How much control should parents have over their kid’s social life?
  • What is the appropriate age to start teaching students about gender studies?
  • The impact of single parenting on a child’s social connection

Choosing interesting research about humss strand will help you stand out from the rest and impact the quality of your paper. Below are some thought-provoking humss research topics you can explore:

  • Feminism in the corporate place: a critical analysis
  • Does parental control influence a child’s social personality?
  • Conventional families: how do they impact a child’s development?
  • Growing up in an LGBTQ family: How does it influence a child’s sexual identity?
  • The effects of social media on teens and youths
  • The outcomes of social networking
  • Are unconventional families beneficial for child development?
  • Young motherhood: How does it impact a child’s wellbeing?

Are you a humss student looking for good topics for your research paper about the humss strand? Below are some ideas worth considering:

  • The impacts of foreign education on professional growth
  • The link between economic prosperity and the feeling of patriotism among citizens
  • The right to privacy: a critical analysis in the digital era
  • Social media preferences among different age and social groups
  • Does social media increase or reduce loneliness among individuals?
  • Is there a link between social media addiction and age?
  • How important is adding food education to the modern education curriculum?
  • A case study on the correlation between food and national identity

Whether you specialize in education, media, communication, liberal arts, or other social sciences, your humss research topic will influence your grade. You can choose an example of a research title about humss strand from the suggestions below:

  • The changes that feminism has bought on gender roles at home
  • The social perception of vegetarianism in different cultures
  • Spirituality and raw food diets: what is the connection?
  • Factors that affect students’ productivity during their free time
  • Social media activism: is it as effective as old-fashioned street protests?
  • Why you should take body language seriously during online interviews
  • Twitter: How it shifted from an ordinary social media platform to a political platform
  • Gender bias: concept definition

You can make your essay or research paper stand out and earn good marks by selecting quality topics. Pick a topic about humss strand from the ideas below:

  • How has the digital era negatively influenced the social concept of morality?
  • The impact of social media on people’s ability to understand others’ feelings
  • Justice and wars: Who is the right person to judge?
  • The influence of the mass media on political attitudes and statistics
  • Awareness of public choice: Why is it so important?
  • Framing: What is its role in the political sector?
  • The root cause of reduced voter turnout: A case study of the United States
  • What impact do advertisements have on political views?

Quantitative research involves collecting and analyzing data from deductive approaches like questionnaires while focusing on testing a specific theory. Finding a good top quantitative research topic about humss strand can make your study easier and more effective. Here are some noteworthy ideas:

  • The electoral process in Michigan (specify location): A quantitative analysis
  • The cultural practices related to childbirth rates in third-world countries
  • An evaluation of the factors promoting teenage pregnancies in the 21 st century
  • The rate of teenage pregnancies in third-world countries Vs. first-world countries
  • Mass Media: Its impact on political statistics and voter behaviors
  • How critical are self-defending networks?
  • A critical analysis of the voter turnout in the recent elections in (state country or state)
  • Can technology upgrades influence relationships?

Quantitative research involves data collection using questionnaires, interviews, and online or offline surveys. Below are some interesting topics you can write about in this area:

  • How can cyber-crimes affect human lives?
  • Racial bullying on social media: a critical analysis
  • Drug testing in the workplace: is it necessary?
  • How practical are modern components of sex education in High Schools?
  • The impacts of the government controlling women’s reproductive rights?
  • The root cause of stereotypes in society
  • How gambling feels to an addict
  • Group social education: What are its benefits?

Qualitative research depends on data obtained through first-hand observation, recordings, or focus groups. You can pick a good qualitative research topic about the humss strand from the following examples:

  • Why do many students perform poorly in sciences?
  • The rate of college acceptance in developing nations
  • Academic preparedness of university students in the United States
  • Victims of bullying in schools: a case study of (state a specific school or location)
  • The relationship between android and apple products
  • Online digital marketing: what is it all about?
  • Virtual reality worlds: their role in transforming society
  • Should kids under four years get a preschool education?

Humss is a vast field with thousands of research topic options for students with various specialties. Choose a research topic related to humss from the following option:

  • The cultural construct of the masculine and feminine identity
  • How individuals interact with various physical elements
  • Inter-nation relationships: what challenges hinder healthy relationships between nations?
  • The value of language in societal success
  • How has the political sector in the United States evolved in the past century?
  • The implications of philosophical studies for the growth of a society
  • Diversity: how does it make society better?
  • Peace and harmony: why are differences vital for peace and harmony?

Choosing a research title about humss can be challenging if you have not done one before. For this reason, we prepared the following title ideas:

  • Religious discrimination in the digital era
  • The conflict between religion and the digital era
  • Social relations between Islam and Christianity
  • The unification of Germany: a look at the process
  • The great migration: a critical analysis
  • Feminism movements and their impacts on society
  • Does studying social sciences give you a better chance of success?
  • The impact of the Ottoman Empire on socialization

When choosing the perfect research topics for humss, you should consider your specialization and research type (qualitative or quantitative). Here are some examples to consider:

  • The impact of the pandemic on people’s social media behaviors
  • Internet purchases: how sales taxes affect them
  • The significance of understanding history in studying humanities
  • Are all human beings anatomically similar?
  • The role of humanities in higher learning institutions
  • Do humanities help students achieve higher analytical and problem-solving skills?
  • Why do universities require multiple humanities courses?
  • The influence of William Shakespeare’s plays on modern literature

Focusing on a social issue is the best way to get a unique and interesting research topic for humss students. Here are some examples:

  • The beginning of the feminist era
  • How has the pandemic influenced the education sector?
  • The implications of social media on religion and culture
  • The impact of healthy doctor-patient relationships on the healthcare sector
  • The relationship between social media interaction and personality development
  • How is the digital era affecting the elderly in society?
  • Modern inter-nation wars: implications of the war between Ukraine and Russia
  • Is the United States still the most powerful country in the world?

Writing a research paper is as easy or hard as the topic you choose. Here are some humss research title ideas:

  • The relationship between empathy and the experience of illness
  • The impact of media on the study of medicine
  • The relationship between social media and education
  • Is diversity vital in society?
  • The impact of gun violence on school attendance
  • Modern aspects of poetry: a critical analysis
  • The COVID-19 pandemic’s influence on social media addiction
  • Social media addiction and age: what is the correlation?

Below are some key ideas on the topic about humss you can focus your research on:

  • How do parents influence their children’s social behaviors
  • Social education: how it helps students develop
  • How do teachers include their student’s course choices?
  • Boarding schools for boys Vs. boarding schools for girls
  • How has social media influenced people’s views of celebrities?
  • The role of social influencing in purchasing behaviors
  • When is military force justifiable
  • Should community service be mandatory for all students?

Your research title for humss will help you determine your paper’s outline and research methods. Below are some incredible topics you should consider:

  • Do advertisements still influence people’s purchasing behaviors?
  • Social media marketing Vs. conventional advertising
  • Dual nationality: its impact on political views
  • The implications of personality on political attitudes
  • The correlation between collective action and public policies
  • Do changes in public policies influence public opinions?
  • The correlation between law-making and bureaucracy
  • The influence of public policy on innovation

A concept paper provides your research’s purpose, background, and outline. Therefore, choosing the perfect topic is vital. Below are some ideas to look into:

  • The US-Mexico Border Dilemma: an analysis
  • Perfectionist policy: concept definition
  • Why are more people turning to digital work in the 21 st century?
  • Ethical issues in the dialysis of homelessness
  • Effects of stigma among leaders
  • How is technology reshaping the future of social interaction?
  • Importance of practical counseling sessions for Psychology students
  • How can parents cope with their kids’ disabilities

A good humss research paper should have a background research topic. Here are some great examples:

  • The root cause of international cyber-attacks
  • The history of Europe and its importance in humanities studies
  • The root of punishment in households
  • Should religious freedom be granted to kids under 18 years?
  • The growth and spread of Islam in African nations
  • How missionaries shaped Africans’ views on religion
  • The impact of the Great Awakenings on US history
  • The growth of Pentecostalism in Latin nations

Quantitative research is a dominant research technique in social sciences, where students can focus on topics like politics and elections. Here are some good ideas:

  • The effectiveness of home care against nursing homes
  • The development of telehealth in the 21 st century
  • How effective are cardiovascular treatments?
  • The link between mortality rates and gender
  • The changes in critic ratings and their impact on equity returns
  • Do people’s decision-making processes depend on their subconscious?
  • Impact of racism on mental health
  • Social anxiety triggers in youths

Let’s Help You

The humss strand is so vast that you can easily find a topic depending on your area of specialization. You can also pick a topic based on interesting social issues . Also, you must be keen on selecting a quality research title that stands out and makes your writing easier. If you feel overwhelmed choosing a title or writing a humss paper, we are here to help you. Talk to us now!

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research paper humanities topics

Writing in Humanities: Do’s and Don’ts for Researchers

Writing in Humanities: Do’s and Don’ts for researchers

Academic writing in humanities plays a pivotal role in advancing the field and disseminating new ideas to a diverse global audience. With readers from various cultures and first languages, effective writing in humanities and sociology requires clarity, convention, and a structure that supports reader comprehension. To help researchers make their mark in influential international journals, we present five essential dos and five critical don’ts of effective academic writing in humanities and sociology to help researchers create a lucid narrative and showcase concepts that can strengthen your argument.

5 Dos to keep in mind when writing in humanities

Maintain focus on the problem statement.

When writing in humanities, remember to clearly state the aim of the study and the problem statement in the introduction, and refer back to this in later sections so that readers do not stray away from the key message.

Present relevant, interesting original work

Leading international journals will only publish work that is original and fills gaps in our current understanding. So, choose the topic of your research carefully to ensure your work is novel, relevant, and interesting.

Write in clear, concise, simple language

When writing in humanities, it’s always helpful to use short sentences that convey your message in a clear, easy-to-understand way. While you may be tempted to use technical jargon, steer clear of complex terms and convoluted phrases that can be confusing or even misleading for your audience.

Be aware of the target journal’s scope

Some journals focus on a certain aspect of the subject, while others publish work from related fields like anthropology, psychology, economics, political studies, and history. So, when writing in humanities, keep in mind the target journal’s scope, audience, and ensure your research can be understood by non-academics or peers from other fields.

Make your Abstract impactful and discoverable

Abstracts are perhaps the most important part of your manuscript and must be crafted with a lot of thought. Typically, keywords from the Abstract and research paper title are used to drive its success on search engines so use at least one phrase to indicate your problem statement, the methodological approach used and why it is important for readers and understand.

5 Don’ts when writing in humanities

Not including visuals to break the monotony of text.

Visuals are a great way to convey complex concepts at a glance, but these should be designed to clearly communicate ideas, without needing to refer to body text. Avoid complicated or ambiguous visuals, use high-definition images, include captions and legends, provide abbreviations and symbols where required, and appropriately cite copyrights, sources, or permissions.

Not adhering to ethical reporting guidelines

Academic writing in humanities often include human subjects, which requires appropriate permissions, ethical reporting, data sharing, and author identification. Adherence to the standards of the Declaration of Helsinki and the ASA’s Code of Ethics on informed consent is considered mandatory; neglecting to follow these ethical guidelines can be cause for manuscript rejection.

Not paying attention to analyses of results

Most reputed journals require authors to include an analysis of the study in the Discussion section; it is not enough to merely mention the validity of findings. This is a common reason for journal rejection among early career academics, who detail their findings and state the methods and approach but overlook this aspect in their humanities research paper.

Not addressing the limitations of the study

Humanities and sociology involve the study of human society and culture, with all its diversity and complexities. This makes it crucial to mention the limitations of your study in the final paragraphs of your humanities research paper to help readers understand the study’s purpose in the context of existing relevant international literature. Provide a brief summary of the issues you addressed, the restrictions your report uncovered, and how your research can benefit future studies in the field.

Not mentioning the impact and applications

Researchers aspire to conduct studies that are relevant and positively impacts our world, so when writing in humanities, highlight the value of your work. It is essential to explain why your study is relevant to readers and how it directly connects with existing themes and concepts. Highlighting your study’s potential applications, relevance and contribution allows readers to analyze your work from specific perspectives and understand its significance in the broader context.

Don’t miss the chance to learn more on how to write a good humanities research paper , where the writing style, structure, and presentation differs from other disciplines. And when you are writing in humanities, remember to write simply and clearly to connect with a diverse audience. By following the dos and avoiding the don’ts mentioned above, researchers writing in humanities can elevate their manuscripts, engage their readers, and leave a lasting impact on the field. Happy writing!

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How to write a good humanities research paper.

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UCI Humanities Core

Spring: Research Project

Research Paper Rubric

UCI Libraries Humanities Core Research Guide Exemplary Sample Projects by Past HumCore Students Appointments at the CEWC

After evaluating multiple primary sources and surveying the scholarly conversation that surrounds potential topics, select a primary source related to our cycle theme of Worldbuilding. Conduct extensive research on the topic, and then compose an expository academic paper that makes an argument about your chosen primary source’s humanistic significance. How does the form or genre of the primary source shape its meaning? How did the primary source come to make meaning, in what contexts, and for what audiences? How do other scholars understand and interpret this primary source or ones like it? How does your own humanistic interpretation of the primary source enter a larger scholarly conversation? What world does this primary source imagine and/or work toward enacting?

Your primary source and research questions must be approved by your seminar instructor. As part of the process, you will engage and collaborate with your seminar and program community and produce a series of prewriting and reflective components, including activities in your Digital Archive: the Research Log and the Multimodal Work-in-Progress. The required process-oriented assignments will be determined by your seminar instructor and must be completed in the order assigned. Your final Research Paper must incorporate and engage in depth with at least 6 scholarly, peer-reviewed articles or books and should be 10–12 pages (approximately 3500–4000 words).

Learning Goals

  • Reinforce and hone compositional skills acquired to date in Humanities Core: to make specific, clear, arguable claims; to produce unified, cohesive body paragraphs; to integrate well-selected evidence from primary and scholarly secondary sources; to exhibit fluid transitions between ideas; and to develop a rhetorically-effective title, introduction, and conclusion
  • Adopt the appropriate stance, style, and genre conventions of humanistic research-based writing as well as the methodology/methodologies relevant to the chosen primary source (e.g., cultural/ethnic studies, literary, visual, filmic and media studies, historical, and/or philosophical analysis)
  • Demonstrate the capacity to critically survey, read, and assess primary sources and scholarly conversations across a variety of genres and media
  • Demonstrate advanced information literacy skills by locating, evaluating, and integrating information gathered from multiple sources (the university library, online academic databases, and digitized archival collections) into a research project
  • Produce accurate, rhetorically effective, multimodal communication using the appropriate genres, stance, and citational practices of scholarly digital media
  • Develop flexible and ethically responsible strategies for generating, revising, and editing research writing and online multimodal compositions
  • Reflect critically on the experience of research, writing, and multimodal communication

Required Reading

You may find it worthwhile to revisit the chapters and appendices you read in the Humanities Core Handbook during the fall and winter quarters as you conduct research and draft your paper. The following chapters cover the research process in general:

Stewart, Robin. “Determining the Topic of a Humanistic Research Project.” Humanities Core Handbook , XanEdu, 2022, pp. 191–203.

Connell, Christine. “Engaging in a Scholarly Conversation.” Humanities Core Handbook , XanEdu, 2022, pp. 241–56.

Morse, Susan. “Developing Titles, Introductions, and Conclusions in Research Writing.” Humanities Core Handbook , XanEdu, 2022, pp. 257–70.

Additionally, the Handbook includes chapters that walk you through the terminology and methods that humanistic scholars employ when analyzing genres of primary sources which we haven’t yet covered in lectures this year.

If you intend to research a work of philosophy, plan to read:

Siakel, Daniel. “Analyzing Arguments.” Humanities Core Handbook , XanEdu, 2022, pp. 75–86.

If you intend to research about a film, plan to read:

Buhanan, Kurt. “Analyzing Film.” Humanities Core Handbook , XanEdu, 2022, pp. 204–218.

If you intend to research a video game, plan to read:

Ruberg, Bo. “Analyzing Video Games.” Humanities Core Handbook , XanEdu, 2022, pp. 219–229.

If you intend to research a built environment, plan to read:

Broadbent, Philip. “Analyzing Built Environments.” Humanities Core Handbook , XanEdu, 2022, pp. 228–240.

The Writing Process and Your Audiences for this Project

As you can likely tell from the Learning Goals detailed above, the spring Research Project is an integrative and cumulative experience of the Humanities Core program as a whole. We hope that you can take the academic writing skills and tools of rhetorical, literary, visual, historical, and cultural studies analysis that you have developed in the past two quarters—as well as those you will learn this spring—and apply them to a topic that interests and excites you. We invite you to take an expansive view of what the theme of worldbuilding can mean and how it relates to the work we do in humanities disciplines, just as our lecturing faculty members have done. While some of your secondary sources might come from disciplines outside of the humanities, the majority of your sources should reflect the kinds of interpretive methodologies that you have been learning about over the course of the year.

Even more so than the other academic expository essays you have written this year, the research project is all about the process. In your seminar, you will be completing a range of scaffolded assignments that will help you to select a feasible topic, identify and engage with secondary sources, and generate your own interpretive intervention into a larger scholarly conversation. Along the way, you will be writing for multiple audiences. Many of the assignments you will undertake in this process are part of formal academic genres; for example, the prospectus is a formal proposal to an academic supervisor or committee (in this case, your seminar instructor) that your research is feasible and will produce a worthwhile contribution to a field of study. The audience for your research project is first and foremost your HumCore seminar and program community: you should anticipate working closely with other students in peer research groups as you explore your topic and build your ideas. You should also envision yourself addressing lecturing faculty members and your seminar instructor, in as much as they are also immersed in the humanistic study of Worldbuilding and thus represent a preliminary scholarly community for your ideas. Perhaps more importantly, you should imagine yourself addressing the scholars in the field or fields you will be exploring, interacting and arguing with them across space and time through your writing. While we certainly don’t expect that you will be an expert in your field by June (though you will certainly be able to identify who is!), you should anticipate that you will likely know much more about your particular topic by the end of the quarter than your seminar instructor.

Digital Archive Research Log

For the last two quarters of Humanities Core, you have engaged with texts and ideas discussed in lectures, readings, and events by archiving your own multimodal reactions and collections of thoughts on your Digital Archive. This quarter, during the process of researching and writing your Research Paper, you will build on your collection and share research log entries documenting and reflecting on your own worldbuilding journey as a budding researcher, with its challenges and successes.

First, think about the multimodal online genre you prefer for recording your reflections on one Research Log page of your Digital Archive. Options available to you include:

  • An audio log, using your preferred app for recording your voice and embedding each recording on the page of your Google Site
  • A video log, using your preferred app for recording video and embedding each recording on the page of your Google Site
  • An illustrated log, or visual diary, using whatever physical or digital drawing materials you prefer and embedding (with a label or caption) on the page of your Google Site
  • A webtext, combining various embedded (and properly cited) media with text you write

Each log entry should be about two minutes or the equivalent of 300 words long, and five entries are suggested. Your seminar instructor will instruct you in the expectations for your seminar.

Digital Archive Multimodal Work-in-Progress

As you near the last stages of your Research Paper, you will have the opportunity to share in the scholarly worldbuilding of Humanities Core by assembling and exchanging your in-progress research ideas with other students. The immediate “public” for this activity will be your Humanities Core seminar or, if arranged by your instructor, more than one Humanities Core seminar. As a culminating contribution to your collection of ideas on your Digital Archive, this activity should allow you to take advantage of the multimodal rhetorical skills you have developed this year with the aims of communicating your research ideas, your own contributions to scholarly conversations about worldbuilding, and your reflections on where your research progress has taken you; it will not be a final presentation since you will not have finished your Research Paper yet.

First, consider which online genre would best suit your research method or topic. Media modes available to you for showing your peers why your research is interesting include audio, video, images, and multimodal webtext. Whichever you select as most rhetorically effective, prepare to present your work-in-progress on one last page of your Digital Archive.

The content of your work-in-progress page, whether a short video essay, short audio essay, or multimodal webtext, should include the tentative title of your project, an introduction to the primary source and its context, an introduction to the scholarly conversation around the topic, an explanation of the methods and analytic concepts you are employing, and a thesis.

Your site visitors’ experience of your work-in-progress on your Digital Archive site (watching, listening, reading) should be about 5-10 minutes long. Be sure to update the navigation and homepage of your site so that the last page is easy to find.

Grade Allocation in Spring Writing Course

Your writing grade in Humanities Core this quarter will be allocated as follows:

Process Writing Assignments (including Annotated Bibliography, Prospectus, and Digital Archive Research Log) 35%
Digital Archive Multimodal Work-in-Progress 10%
Final Research Paper 45%
Participation 10%

The Work and Insights of Past HumCore Students

Many students find that the work they do in the spring quarter of Humanities Core inspires them to take additional coursework in a Humanities department. Humanities Core Research Projects have formed the foundation of many undergraduate honors theses. Past students have even reported that this project sparked their interest toward future graduate study. You can read award-winning examples from past cycles of Humanities Core on our Student Awards page ; be aware, however, that some past students were writing about a different theme than Worldbuilding and/or may have had different technical expectations in place for their projects.

The winners of last year’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program Awards will share their insights on this process with you at our Annual UROP/Humanities Core Research Symposium on April 14 (please see the Calendar page on the Canvas Lecture site for more information).

Posted 7 March 2023

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VISIONS & VOICES - EVENTS & RESOURCE THEME GUIDES FOR FOCUSED RESEARCH

Research resources, usc libraries resource theme guides, visions & voices theme guides, usc center for the premodern world.

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USC Dornsife Center for the Premodern World

The Center for the Premodern World at USC creates space and offers resources for the study of cultures and civilizations, beginning with the earliest historical eras up to the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the modern world. 

For Info on Upcoming Events: Click Here

Welcome to the Strategic Research Guide for Humanities

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This guide features key resources for Humanities.

Need more resources for, research, learning, & teaching - explore usc libraries..

https://linktr.ee/libresources

RELATED USC RESEARCH GUIDES

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Primary Sources

Fair Use: Using Images and Non-Textual Materials in Presentations, Papers, Theses, and Dissertations

Organizing Research for Arts and Humanities Papers & Theses

Theater & Drama

English Language & Literature

Nineteenth-Century Literary Studies

Reading Early Printed Books

Medieval and Manuscript Studies and Research

EXTERNAL RESEARCH GUIDES

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

Incunabula at The Huntington

Huntington Incunabula in the Digital Era

From Parchment to Pixel: Conservation and Digitization of Illuminated Manuscripts

Duke University Libraries

Teaching Materiality Online with the Rubenstein Library

Additional External Research Guides:

Duke University Humanities Research Guides

University of Michigan Humanities Research Guides

University of Chicago Humanities Research Guides

NYU Digital Humanities Research Guide

Northwestern University Digital Humanities Research Guide

DR. MELISSA L. MILLER, HEAD, HOOSE LIBRARY OF PHILOSOPHY, HUMANITIES LIBRARIAN

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Hoose Library of Philosophy, Library & Student Assistant Supervisor

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MONTHLY EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING

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HOOSE LIBRARY OF PHILOSOPHY USAGE STATISTICS

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  • URL: https://libguides.usc.edu/humanitiesresearch

Humanities Research Paper Topics & Ideas

Use our essay topics suggestions to impress your reader.

  • Argumentative Essay Topics About Humanities Research
  • Persuasive Essay Topics About Humanities Research
  • Essay Examples on This Topic

The discipline of the humanities is considered more rational than the study of the social sciences. The humanities are a scientific discipline that includes the customs, heritage, culture, and values of the community and call into question the factors that make a person human. It includes topics such as religion, primitive languages, history, modern languages, performing arts, law, and philosophy.

The humanities offer general knowledge about the greatest achievements of individuals in history. The humanities include the study of Shakespeare, Plato, and Beethoven. Humanities are a way to educate someone, but not necessarily for a specific profession.

How to Choose Essay Topic on Humanities?

1. choose a topic that you are passionate about..

You will be more engaged in your work, and it will show in the quality of your writing.

2. Choose a topic that interests you and/or connects with your personal experience.

Your reader will be more interested in what you have to say if they can relate to your experiences or interests, so choose something that matters to you!

3. Choose a topic that relates to the course’s focus or themes.

Your teacher may ask you to write an essay based on one of these topics, so make sure it fits into their requirements!

Tips on How to Write Humanities Essay

Writing a humanities essay is no easy feat. You’re going to have to do some research, and you’re going to have to come up with an argument that’s both convincing and compelling. But with these five tips, you’ll be on your way to writing a great essay in no time!

  • Read your topic carefully: Before you start writing, make sure you understand exactly what your prompt is asking for. If it’s not clear, ask your teacher or TA for clarification before moving on.
  • Do your research: The best way to show off your knowledge of the subject is by using examples from real life situations in your essay—but don’t just copy-and-paste text from other sources! Make sure all of your sources are credible and relevant; if you can’t find anything useful online, try looking at books or articles from reputable journals instead (or even going into the field yourself).
  • Ask questions: What is the author trying to prove? Why does this particular piece of evidence support their point? What would happen if we were to ignore this claim completely? These are all questions worth asking yourself when reading through an academic article or book chapter about a topic in humanities (or any other field for that matter).

✒️ Argumentative Essay Topics About Humanities Research

  • Are Humanities Relevant to the 21St Century
  • Art and Humanities
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Humanities in the Early, High, And Late Middle Ages
  • The Humanity Of Our Hero, Jose Rizal
  • Of Mice & Men – Personal Relevance Humanities Literature
  • Statue of Liberty – Humanities
  • Finding Aristotle’s Golden Mean: Social Justice and Academic Excellence
  • The Importance of Arts and Humanities (Response Paper)
  • Progressive Era Through the Great Depression
  • Religious Liberty Should Do No Harm
  • Great Awakenings in American History
  • Humanities and Human Sciences
  • Conscientious Objection to Military Service
  • The Real Birth of American Democracy

Popular Questions

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✍ Persuasive Essay Topics About Humanities Research

the humanities

  • Racial Justice in the 21st Century
  • Human Flourishing And Public Health
  • Are Zoos Good or Bad For Animals
  • Power of Women in the Media
  • Ethical Problems of Abortion
  • Of Mice ; Men – Personal Relevance Humanities Literature
  • Science and the Humanities: Still “Two Cultures”?
  • 21st Century Civil Rights Movement
  • How Does Gender Affect Educational Opportunity
  • The Printing Revolution in Renaissance Europe
  • The Scientific Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment

Informative Essay Topics About Humanities Research

  • Are humanities relevant to the 21st century
  • A Huge Change in my Life Since Entering College
  • Jose rizal humanities
  • The Golden Mean Humanities
  • The Death and the Maiden Book Analysis
  • Humanities in the Early, High And Late Middle Ages
  • Statue of Liberty – Humanities
  • The importance of arts and humanities (response paper)
  • Using Context to Understand Content
  • Humanities and Arts
  • Personal Narrative Essay On The Power Of Written Words
  • Your Personal Narrative Should be Written in the First Person
  • The Worst Things in Life are Free
  • The Impact of a Gradual and Cautious Approach to Social Change
  • Ancient Societies: Were Primitive Societies Truly Primitive
  • Why Should We Legalize Marijuana?
  • Should the US government end the use of private prisons?
  • Most Common Humanities Essay Topics
  • Teenage Pregnancy Awareness essay
  • Shakespeare is the greatest poet ever.
  • Should Abortion be Legal?
  • Animal Testing – Does it really save human lives?
  • Is the current educational system in America achieving its goals?
  • Why Having A Pet is Good for Your Health
  • How to Write an Argumentative Essay
  • How to Write an Essay on The Secret For Success (The Secret)
  • Gender Inequality in the Workplace

Humanities Essay Topics for College Students

  • Humanity Should Receive Money for Crime Committed
  • How to Become A Healthier Person
  • Policy Makers Should Listen to the People for The Betterment of the World
  • 9 Facts That Will Make You Love Shakespeare Even More
  • 3 Tips to Help You Get through the Harsh Winter Weather
  • Team America – True Patriotism
  • How Respectable Was The Roman Empire In Its Golden Age?
  • Love, loyalty, and community are three values that make great leaders. How they can lead a community
  • Writing My Humanities Essay
  • The Ideal College Acceptance Essay
  • Humanities Essay Topic: The Role of Animals in Human Society – Essay UK
  • Humanities Essay Topic – Why You Should Use Your Money Wisely
  • Why the World Needs the Humanities
  • Definitive List of Top 10 Literary Genres
  • 3 Books That Changed The World
  • The Impact of Religion in the Lives of Americans
  • 7 Reasons Why Post Secondary Education is a Waste of Time
  • The Great Gatsby Movie Vs. Book
  • Why I Got Rid of My Smartphone
  • Write An Essay To Promote Child Labor: Support Propaganda
  • The Definition of a Man
  • The Importance of Social Media
  • Why American Education Needs To Be Improved

Humanities Essay Topics for High School Students

  • Recent Films are Ruining The Pressing Cinematic Art
  • For something as important as marriage, it should not be taken lightly and a person should take their time
  • Ultimately, the greatest sacrifices come not from the soldier wearing the uniform but from their family.
  • The Reign of Terror is a perfect example of Robespierre’s inability to see the difference between “
  • Honor, Winning, Excellence
  • The Leading Cause Of Death
  • An Introduction to Sufism
  • Even though this is a fairly easy topic to write about, there are still several choices in front of
  • Why Studying In a Christian University is Important
  • Titanic is a benchmark for ‘movie musicals’
  • The Debate on the “Humanities”
  • Humanities essays are an integral part of a individual’s life. Most students feel humanities essay writing is
  • Arts And Crafts Essay – Propaganda During World War Ii
  • I Want to Travel the World
  • Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
  • The Benefits of Engaging in Daily Yoga Practice
  • Could Interest for Loans be a Bad Things

Get a Quality Essay on Your Topic

Other Topics

  • Social Class Essay Topics & Ideas
  • Social Work Essay Topics & Ideas
  • American Dream Essay Topics & Ideas
  • Communication Essay Topics & Ideas
  • Gender Issues Essay Topics & Ideas

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Writing X Humanities

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A "how to" guide for UC Berkeley writers

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Doing Research

In the humanities, as in the sciences, research begins with formulating a hypothesis about a subject and “testing” it out by engaging with evidence. But the nature of the evidence, the method of testing, and the kind of knowledge produced in humanities research differ from those in the sciences.

Rather than using quantitative or qualitative evidence as researchers do in the sciences, humanities researchers rely for evidence on their own close readings of primary and secondary texts. Whereas research in the sciences is grounded in the empirical method, humanities research uses a diverse array of methodologies, sometimes combining historical, conceptual, and/or critical methodologies in a single study. And instead of attempting to “prove” their hypotheses once and for all, humanities researchers develop arguments using their hypotheses in order to contribute and extend to ongoing critical conversations. These conversations themselves, one might say, constitute knowledge in the humanities.

Doing research into what has already been written about on your topic will allow you not only to situate your hypothesis within these conversations, but also to come up with questions that haven’t yet been asked. Through critical reading, you can identify gaps in previous writing on your topic and orient your own project to address these gaps if they seem like meaningful oversights. Your aim as a humanities researcher, then, is to develop a fuller understanding of your subject matter in dialogue with other scholars, and thus to move this ongoing conversation forward.

To develop a research question, you might start by making a bulleted list of topics or issues that you might want to pursue, based on your interests and the concerns of your course. When making this list, you should be expansive. Don’t limit yourself: your goal at this stage is to generate ideas, not evaluate them.

Next, you could try free-writing on the themes you see emerging from your list of potential topics. Are there any areas of interest that seem to repeat or echo? Can you start to create umbrella terms? Are you noticing friction within or between some of these concerns? These are just a few of the questions that may lead to a more focused line of investigation.  

Then, see if you can reframe your topic or theme as a research question by asking “How?” or “Why?” Keep in mind that your research question should be debatable and defendable : you may find that other scholars have very different points of view on this question or its answer. This is a good sign, and an invitation for you to step in and contribute to the scholarly discussion.

  Here are some helpful suggestions for broadening, narrowing, or otherwise tweaking a preliminary research topic so that you will be poised to write a well-focused essay.

And here is a concise overview that will guide you on the road to finding your research question . 

To engage fully with your secondary sources, you will need to read critically. But reading sources critically doesn’t necessarily mean disagreeing with them or reading them in a negative way. Rather, it means analyzing the details of an argument-driven piece of popular or scholarly writing that you may ultimately use towards fashioning your own argument. It means asking how these details reflect the assumptions, values, and stakes of the writer’s argument. Reading critically means navigating between doubting and believing what you read. 

When reading critically, we treat what we read less like objective, self-evident data and more like evidence being presented to persuade us of something. Sometimes it’s obvious that what we’re reading is trying to persuade us of something—think of an editorial that takes an explicitly controversial stance or a scholarly article that clearly signposts its position using phrases like “here I argue…” Other texts may make their arguments more subtly or indirectly. But either way, reading critically involves considering how the components and structure of the argument contribute to its actual or intended effect upon the reader.

One approach to reading critically is to investigate a text’s “ way of thinking .” Rather than reading simply for comprehension or information, you can also attend to a text’s claims, contexts, kinds of reasoning, and evidence in order to evaluate the effectiveness of its argument and to think about what you might add to the discussion or redirect it.  

Another approach involves asking questions about the relationship between the parts and the whole of an argument. These questions might address the role of pattern, process, sequence, causality, and other elements of argumentation and structure.

Here are some tips for reading secondary sources and some step-by-step exercises for reading critically.

Since you can’t write an interesting research paper without engaging with other scholars’ ideas, you’ll have to find secondary sources that are accurate and pertinent to your argument.

You’ll almost certainly want to start online, but the internet is an enormously complex—and just plain enormous!—compendium of resources. You can use Wikipedia to check out some basic facts and get some rough background information, but it’s not a reliable, scholarly source–see What’s Wrong With Wikipedia . Likewise, Googling, even using Google Scholar , can only get you so far, since there are valuable scholarly resources out there that are discoverable only by using humanities-specific Web directories ( Voice of the Shuttle , started in 1994, is the granddaddy of all online humanities research directories) and databases ( JSTOR , Project Muse , and the MLA International Bibliography , among others), along with the Berkeley library’s online catalogue .

Before you begin searching in a library catalog or journal database, familiarize yourself with using advanced search functions , such as “Boolean operators” (the basic ones are AND, OR, and NOT), truncation and wildcards (*, !, ?, or #), and keywords and subject headings. Here are some suggestions for coming up with searchable keywords .

You can read many of the sources (especially the articles) that you find through databases entirely online; you’ll need to track down other sources (like most books and book chapters) in the library. Once you’ve found a book in the library, take some time to scan nearby shelves for other books on the same topic that might not have come up in your catalog search. Also scan the bibliographies and footnotes of books and articles you’ve already found: these are great places to find more sources on your topic.

“Good” here means two different things: “good” as in relevant to your topic and useful for the kind of argument you’re making, but also “good” as in scholarly, reputable, and current. 

To determine the usefulness and relevance of a secondary source, begin by skimming it .  If the source at hand is an article, read the abstract. If it doesn’t have an abstract, read the opening paragraph, the section headings, and/or first sentences of a few of the body paragraphs, plus the concluding paragraph. If it is a book, read the blurb on the back cover, the table of contents, and the beginning and ending of the introduction and/or conclusion. From this quick but strategic dip into a secondary source, you should be able to glean something about its overall argument and whether it provides useful material for your own project. 

Remember: don’t discard a scholarly source just because it contradicts what you want to say. Do you disagree with its premises, its use of evidence, or its conclusions? Any of these points of disagreement might provide a foothold for advancing your own argument. Or if a secondary source does not address your primary text directly, does it put forth a theory or provide information that will help you to analyze your text?

Your quick dip into a source may also give you a feel for the quality of its scholarship. But there are also many concrete questions you can ask about a source to evaluate its reliability. What are the credentials of the author? Who is the publisher and the intended audience? When was it published? What sources does it cite? For a more detailed breakdown of ways to evaluate print and online sources, consult one or more of the following (reliable!) resources:

Evaluating Resources (UC Berkeley Library) Quality of Sources (Dartmouth College) Critically Analyzing Information Sources (Cornell University Library) Evaluating Web Pages (Cornell University Library) Evaluating Print vs. Internet Sources (Purdue OWL) Interpreting Sources (University of Michigan)

Skimming is a valuable reading technique. It can give you a general sense of what a  text is about, and it can help you to locate key arguments and passages relevant to your own research and writing. Skimming is also useful when you’re short on time. Let’s be honest: skimming is sometimes the only reading you have time to do!

But skimming does not mean speed-reading an entire text; zooming through a whole story or story at breakneck speed is, generally speaking, a waste of your time. Instead, skim strategically. Read the first and last pages of the whole work, and then read the beginning and ending of each chapter. Look for words, especially names, which appear repeatedly, dipping selectively into the text to get a sense of the style and “texture” of the writing.

Scholarly and critical texts, typically used as secondary sources, often have abstracts that give a summary of their main argument, and they also often have section headings, topic sentences, and transitions to guide readers through their discussion. Introductions are good places to look for roadmaps and thesis statements, while conclusions often summarize the whole argument. Focusing on these signposts will help you get the gist of an article or book without reading the whole thing in depth. These techniques are especially useful when your research turns up multiple secondary sources and you need to select the ones most relevant to your own topic. 

You can find some pointers on skimming in this very thorough set of instructions on How to Read a Book . 

Taking notes is an essential part of doing research. Obviously, the notes you take should provide a clear record of what you’ve read. But the very act of note-taking can help you to develop your thinking about your research question and ultimately to use evidence to support your argument.

To help yourself read secondary sources critically, you should take thorough but not overly detailed notes . Make sure to record key terms but don’t write out everything word for word; paraphrase whenever possible to make sure you have a grasp of relevant points; and don’t highlight or underline without also making marginal notes about the significance of the marked words or passages and any questions you might have about them. 

Make sure to include complete bibliographic data with your notes on each source so that you can retrace your steps if you end up needing to go back for more information or to check that you are quoting accurately. There are many different formats for note-taking—in the margins of the text or on Post-Its; on paper or in a Word document—and you’ll need to experiment to figure out what works best for you. You will also need to work out a good system for organizing and reviewing the notes you take. If you are juggling multiple sources, for example, consider using index cards or a citation management software ( Zotero and Mendeley are two popular ones) to organize and annotate your sources. You can even use these programs to generate properly formatted endnotes and Works Cited lists.

You can use your notes as the basis for an annotated bibliography ; here are some additional resources on writing annotated bibliographies.  Even if your instructor does not require you to produce a formal bibliography as a preliminary phase of your research paper, your own notes will still serve as the basis for situating and differentiating your own argument within a field of existing literature. Your notes should help you to take a strong, well-informed, and original stance in your writing. 

Research, like writing, is not a linear process. You will probably begin with a broad topic that will gradually become more focused over the course of your research and writing. You’ll then have to do additional research on this more focused and developed version of your original topic. Remember that the evolution of your topic depends not only on your reading but also on your writing throughout the research process. Such preliminary writing might include producing an annotated bibliography and/or a prospectus, as well as in less formal modes such as freewriting, mind mapping, outlining, and drafting.

The process of researching and refining, and researching and refining again, could go on endlessly, but don’t let it. You have to strike a balance between your responsibility as a researcher—citing and integrating the sources most relevant to your topic (not just the first three sources you find!)—and what is humanly possible. You can’t read every source ever written on your topic, and you shouldn’t. Remember that your goal is to develop and answer your specific research question. When you have a good sense of how your argument fits into the existing conversation, you can stop.

How do you know when enough is enough? Here are some diagnostic questions to help you answer the question: “When Can I Stop Researching?”

It’s not enough to use secondary sources merely for factual or historical information, although this is certainly one thing that sources can do for you. It’s also not enough to simply say “I agree” or “I disagree” with what other scholars have written, although this can be a starting place for developing a tentative research question and even a tentative thesis. Through thoughtful selection of and engagement with secondary sources, you can participate in ongoing critical conversations and even propel them in new directions. (Of course, the initial phases of your attempt to enter one of these conversations might reveal to you that you need to find different or additional sources!)

You might begin by considering how your sources are using their own sources . They probably cite other research to support their own claims (“Yes, and…”), to make a new claim instead (“No, because…”), or acknowledge other arguments in order to show a critical “gap” in the conversation, which their own argument will fill (“Although X and Y, nonetheless Z…”). In turn, you can use the specifics of their critical positioning to situate yourself in the discussion.

There are any number of ways of navigating secondary sources effectively , most of them involving either limited alignment or partial dissent. Some of these modes of engagement include adopting a term, adapting a theory, and changing the question, using moves that might be described as “picking a fight,” “drawing battle lines,” “piggybacking,” “leapfrogging,” and “matchmaking.” Here are two overviews of basic maneuvers and fundamental strategies for using secondary sources to develop an argument.

In order to effectively use your secondary sources to develop an argument, you need to clearly and gracefully integrate material from those sources into your sentences. Whether you paraphrase, quote, or summarize this material, you must fully signpost its relation to your argument, whether via limited alignment or focused dissent. As when you are making an argument about a primary text , you need to ensure that you are analyzing your source rather than leaving it undigested for your reader. Toward that end, there are a few things you should consider when integrating sources:

  • Evaluate whether you need to quote, paraphrase, or summarize . Here are some tips on when and how to   summarize effectively. And here is some advice for determining whether   paraphrasing or quoting will best serve your purposes.
  • When paraphrasing, be sure to do so accurately and fairly . You can practice this skill by doing this quick paraphrasing exercise . Just as when you quote word-for-word from a text, it is crucial to avoid plagiarizing when paraphrasing . For more information on avoiding plagiarism when quoting and paraphrasing, jump to the next section, “How do I responsibly cite my sources and avoid plagiarism?”
  • Always be sure to Introduce, Cite, and Explain (“ICE,”for short) your evidence! Another way that you can ICE your evidence is by “sandwiching ” it between a claim and analysis, much as you would introduce and analyze a primary text.
  • Familiarize yourself with guidelines about when quoting is most effective rhetorically and how to avoid quoting extraneous material . Determine which type of quotation —a block, spliced, or signaled quote—best suits your purposes.
  • Before you submit your essay, be sure to review the   nuts and bolts of integrating source material into your prose, i ncluding using proper punctuation. Bonus: here’s a list of signal verbs and phrases to help you synthesize the words and ideas of other scholars.

Whenever you use language, ideas, or arguments from others, you need to cite them. The Berkeley Campus Student Code of Conduct frames improper citation as a form of academic misconduct —failure to cite one’s sources properly constitutes the theft of intellectual property. Plagiarism can make you subject to penalties ranging from failing an assignment to failing a course. Under some circumstances, suspension or even dismissal from the university may be imposed as a sanction.

Correct citation is not only a matter of personal and scholarly integrity. There’s another important reason to cite the arguments of other scholars who have written on your topic: citing them accurately and fully allows other scholars to track down those sources themselves . . . and it also allows you to check your own work. This practice might be compared to writing a detailed account of your experimental method in the sciences—citation is what gives research in the humanities its “replicability.” In sum, citation allows the scholarly conversation to continue moving forward. 

What counts as plagiarism? It can take a wide variety of forms, not just the act of submitting the work of another person as your own. Copying language directly from a source, like “patch-working” together sentences or paragraphs or ideas from multiple sources, is also plagiarism. And paraphrasing or rewording of sources without attribution can also be considered plagiarism. Even if you discover that a source makes the same point that you made first on your own, you still have to cite it! 

The easiest way to avoid plagiarism? If you’re in doubt about whether or not you should cite something, cite it! Accidental plagiarism is still considered plagiarism and is subject to the same repercussions. Keeping scrupulous notes throughout the research and writing process will help you to remember which ideas and phrasings are your own and which came directly from your sources. 

There are several different formats for citing sources; your instructor will tell you which style—MLA style, Chicago, style etc.—to use. For more details on MLA style, the most common citation format in the humanities, try the Purdue OWL or The MLA Style Center .

There is a wealth of resources–guides, grants, mentoring, awards, and more–for undergraduate research across the humanities at UC Berkeley. Here are some of the best-known ones, though you may be able to find others under the auspices of specific departments or programs.

You can begin searching for materials through the Library Guide to Research , which is organized by discipline or area of study. You can also find here the contact information for the particular UC Berkeley librarian who is an expert on research offerings in each subject area, and who can guide you to these resources. There are many research databases and subject-specific guides listed here under each heading. One that you won’t find listed there, A Guide to the Archive Resources of the Bay Area , lists some of the primary research offerings at UC Berkeley’s Bancroft Library and other university archives around the Bay. 

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarships (OURS) is a clearing house for information about university-wide research grants and mentoring programs across the disciplines including the Haas Scholars Program , Student Mentoring and Research Teams (SMART), Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF), Underrepresented Researchers of Color (UROC), and Undergraduate Research Apprentices Project (URAP). They have databases with information about many other internal and external grants and programs, as well as offering help with finding and applying for these. Don’t forget to check with individual departments for major-specific prizes. UC Berkeley’s English Department, for example, offers travel grants for undergraduates to attend conferences and to do research at archives elsewhere in the U.S. and abroad. 

When your research is done or close to being finished (the submission deadline is in mid-April!), you should consider applying for the Library Prize for Undergraduate Research . 

For additional materials, go to  Teaching Research  in the  For Instructors  section of this website.

Anti-Racism and Culture

Archives and the Public

Cities and Urbanization

Computational Social Science

Conflict and Violence

Environment, Sustainability, and Resilience

Ethics of AI

Health, Culture, and Society

Human Migration

Information and Misinformation

Intersectional Gender and Sexuality

Labor, Work, and Occupation

Legal/Pre-Law

Non-Profit/NGOs

Public Service/Public Policy

Science, Technology, and Society

Social Justice

Wealth Inequality

Dialogues of Civilization

Dynamic and playful london: community development and social change, dialogue: language and culture in contemporary france, dialogue: economic development in rwanda, spanish language and peruvian history and culture, food and culture in vietnam and cambodia, the geopolitics of borders: from security to solidarity in sicily, diversity and unity – politics and migration in the netherlands, ethnic identity and conflict in croatia and bosnia, greece, serbia, bosnia: from balkan wars to economic & security promises of european union, prague-warsaw-krakow-gdans, italian language and culture, ireland, literature and film, the twenty-first century city: tokyo and kyoto, language and culture in spain, experiencing the old and new middle east, the united nations in geneva – diplomacy from ai to global public health and climate, spanish language and culture in pamplona, bibao, and madrid, holocaust and genocide studies, new england and old england: coast, country, city.

  • Topics must be submitted in writing and must include the name(s) of the specific text(s) you will be interpreting.
  • Once you submit a topic, you are bound to it.  Any changes in topic must be accompanied by a written explanation for the change.
  • Topics CANNOT be changed after the final topic deadline date (see below).
  • The final deadline for turning in your topics is stated on the syllabus.
  • No topics will be accepted after that deadline. If your topic has not been accepted by that time, you cannot hand in a paper and you will lose twenty (20) points off of your final average.
  • Do NOT make comparisons to the present day!
  • Women: Prizes, Goddesses, Mothers, Wives
  • Vision vs. Blindness
  • Theology: Greek vs. Egyptian vs. Roman vs. Hebrew
  • War vs. Love/Sex
  • Relationships: Gods and Humans, Men and Women
  • Kings & Rulers: Good and Bad Qualities
  • Characters and their Relationships
  • History and Historical Context
  • Versions of Creation
  • Visions of the Underworld

One such approach is to examine the works of a particular writer within the historical context during which it was written.  What, in other words, makes the works represent a particular period, culture, etc.?   You can also examine the relationship between the author's life and the works he/she writes.

Once you have decided on a general topic to explore, you could go one of three ways: examine a couple of  shorter works by the same author, examine a longer work by one author, or examine a few short works by two different authors.  I would try not to examine more than one novel or play , two short stories , or three poems .

Some potential topics.  Keep in mind that for each of these topics,  you will need to develop an opinion or answer a question:

  • Women: Prizes, Goddesses, Mothers, Wives in Gilgamesh or Sundiata or Oedipus Rex
  • Gods and Humans: Gilgamesh or African Tales and Myths or Qur'an or Popol Vuh
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Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences

Studying the benefits of virtual art engagement

James pawelski and katherine cotter talk to penn today about their research into digital art galleries..

Vincent Van Gogh's The Postman, full-scale and zoomed-in.

The everyday visitor to an art museum may not know how many seconds or minutes they spent looking at a given painting or whether they spent more time with purple art or green art. But by placing participants in a virtual art gallery and using an open-source tool, researchers from the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project at the Positive Psychology Center have been able to track this kind of data and match behavior with questionnaire responses.

Studying virtual art galleries and their wellbeing benefits is a relatively new line of inquiry for the Project, a National Endowment for the Arts Research Lab. Some digital art experiences take the form of an online picture catalog of artwork while others “are almost like Google Maps Street View, where you can click through,” says Katherine Cotter , associate director of research.

Cotter and James Pawelski , principal investigator and founding director of the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project, talked with Penn Today about their research into digital art engagement.

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How did you begin studying virtual art galleries?

Pawelski: This is a case of necessity being the mother of invention. When we brought Katherine on as a part of the Humanities and Human Flourishing Project, we had great plans and support to conduct research in the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see how visits there affected the visitor’s wellbeing. Unfortunately, the pandemic had other ideas. 

A lot of art museums pivoted very quickly to making their exhibitions available online. Katherine had a colleague who had a very creative and dedicated partner who offered to create a virtual platform for study during the pandemic. He followed through and OGAR—the Open Gallery for Arts Research—was born. We then helped to co-develop it to add more functions. 

Because of these various projects that museums had undergone—putting their art online, making it accessible virtually—these opportunities were not going to go away when the pandemic was over. Instead, they realized this is a very powerful way of engaging audiences who can’t come, or can’t come today, to the art museum. We’ve been in conversations with a variety of art museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and their digital folks there, and thinking, “How can we continue to use this platform to study the wellbeing effects of engaging with art?”

For people interested in exploring art from the comfort of their homes, what are some of your favorite virtual art experiences?

Cotter: One that I think is also really cool is Google Arts & Culture because they have such high-resolution images. You can scroll in so close to see the brushstrokes. James and I also taught a course for the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia around this topic of visual art and flourishing on their online platform, which also has some of these really nice zoom-in features. They’re doing a lot of robust online teaching and programming on a variety of topics.

How does this work fit into the larger Humanities and Human Flourishing Project, and what does human flourishing mean in the context of engaging with art?

Pawelski: The Humanities and Human Flourishing Project is interested in looking at connections between arts and culture and various positive outcomes. These can range from physiological outcomes—Does it have an effect on your cortisol levels? Does it have an effect on your heart rate?—to neuroscientific effects. What happens in our brains as we walk into an art museum or as we go onto OGAR? 

We have a very broad notion of what we mean by these flourishing outcomes, and we have five different key pathways that we’ve identified. The first one is immersion; it’s hard to be changed by an experience in the arts and humanities if you’re not paying attention to it. The others include being able to express your feelings and your thoughts, acquiring long-term skills that you can put to use elsewhere, connecting with others, and reflecting on what the experience means to you.

You recently published a study on the wellbeing benefits of virtual art galleries. Can you talk about the design of the study and the digital art gallery that you used?

Cotter: This was a gallery put together with OGAR where we partnered with the Philadelphia Museum of Art to utilize their collection and create a set of galleries featuring 30 artworks. Part of what we were interested in was what happens in the virtual gallery but also what happens when people have repeated engagement. We had people complete a series of four gallery visits, and each gallery was different, so they were seeing new art each time. 

We see that people—across time—are having changes in their positive emotions, their negative emotions, and what we call aesthetic emotions, so feeling moved or in awe, or getting goosebumps or chills. But what seems to be particularly important is their immersion levels. People who are more immersed in these experiences overall have greater positive emotion, lower negative emotion, and more of these aesthetic feelings. 

All five personality traits—openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism—were uniquely linked to immersion, so people who are higher in these traits are reporting greater immersion. An interesting lack of effect was that none of these things was associated with people’s interest in art coming in, so it didn’t mean you had to be highly engaged with art or highly interested in art to see these benefits. 

Pawelski: Another aspect of our work that I think is really valuable is that if you go to an art museum and you ask these questions, that’s great, but you have to keep in mind that you have a biased sample. These are people who have decided, for whatever reason, that this is the way they’re going to spend their day. What is it about those people versus the other people driving by who have not decided to do that? Can you really generalize from that self-selected population to everyone? But with the work that we’re doing with OGAR, these are people who are representatively selected.

Are there particular benefits to a virtual art engagement compared to an in-person experience?

Cotter: There are unique affordances to the digital. I can go to three different international museums in the same day if I want to and not have to spend all that money on airfare to get to them. 

I got a not-infrequent number of responses from people doing this study saying they haven’t been to a museum in a long time because of physical or geographic accessibility, and they’re like, “It was so nice to view art again because I couldn’t.” I think there’s also some of these broader accessibility factors that come into play. If you want to go to a museum, they’re open at certain times; the internet’s always open. There’s mobility considerations as well; there’s not always a lot of spots to sit in the galleries, or they’re often taken.

Headshots of researchers Katherine Cotter, a woman smiling with a brown hair and a blue blazer, and James Pawelski, a smiling man with tortoiseshell glasses and greying hair in a blue blazer.

Pawelski: I think in some ways, our attitudes about art need to catch up with our attitudes about music. I don’t think anybody would say, “You’re listening to Spotify? Why would you do that? That’s kind of nuts. You’re not actually with the musician? You’re not actually at the concert?” 

We have incredible richness available to us in music. Why not take advantage of a similar kind of richness that we have available to us in art?

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Physicists report new insights into exotic particles key to magnetism

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Molecule with six atoms. Nickel is labeled at the center of each, and two are highlighted with red arrows that say "exciton hopping"

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MIT physicists and colleagues report new insights into exotic particles key to a form of magnetism that has attracted growing interest because it originates from ultrathin materials only a few atomic layers thick. The work, which could impact future electronics and more, also establishes a new way to study these particles through a powerful instrument at the National Synchrotron Light Source II at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Among their discoveries, the team has identified the microscopic origin of these particles, known as excitons. They showed how they can be controlled by chemically “tuning” the material, which is primarily composed of nickel. Further, they found that the excitons propagate throughout the bulk material instead of being bound to the nickel atoms.

Finally, they proved that the mechanism behind these discoveries is ubiquitous to similar nickel-based materials, opening the door for identifying — and controlling — new materials with special electronic and magnetic properties.

The open-access results are reported in the July 12 issue of Physical Review X .

“We’ve essentially developed a new research direction into the study of these magnetic two-dimensional materials that very much relies on an advanced spectroscopic method, resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS), which is available at Brookhaven National Lab,” says Riccardo Comin, MIT’s Class of 1947 Career Development Associate Professor of Physics and leader of the work. Comin is also affiliated with the Materials Research Laboratory and the Research Laboratory of Electronics.

Comin’s colleagues on the work include Connor A. Occhialini, an MIT graduate student in physics, and Yi Tseng, a recent MIT postdoc now at Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (DESY). The two are co-first authors of the Physical Review X paper.

Additional authors are Hebatalla Elnaggar of the Sorbonne; Qian Song, a graduate student in MIT’s Department of Physics; Mark Blei and Seth Ariel Tongay of Arizona State University; Frank M. F. de Groot of Utrecht University; and Valentina Bisogni and Jonathan Pelliciari of Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Ultrathin layers

The magnetic materials at the heart of the current work are known as nickel dihalides. They are composed of layers of nickel atoms sandwiched between layers of halogen atoms (halogens are one family of elements), which can be isolated to atomically thin layers. In this case, the physicists studied the electronic properties of three different materials composed of nickel and the halogens chlorine, bromine, or iodine. Despite their deceptively simple structure, these materials host a rich variety of magnetic phenomena.

The team was interested in how these materials’ magnetic properties respond when exposed to light. They were specifically interested in particular particles — the excitons — and how they are related to the underlying magnetism. How exactly do they form? Can they be controlled?

Enter excitons

A solid material is composed of different types of elementary particles, such as protons and electrons. Also ubiquitous in such materials are “quasiparticles” that the public is less familiar with. These include excitons, which are composed of an electron and a “hole,” or the space left behind when light is shone on a material and energy from a photon causes an electron to jump out of its usual position.

Through the mysteries of quantum mechanics, however, the electron and hole are still connected and can “communicate” with each other through electrostatic interactions. This interaction leads to a new composite particle formed by the electron and the hole — an exciton.

Excitons, unlike electrons, have no charge but possess spin. The spin can be thought of as an elementary magnet, in which the electrons are like little needles orienting in a certain way. In a common refrigerator magnet, the spins all point in the same direction. Generally speaking, the spins can organize in other patterns leading to different kinds of magnets. The unique magnetism associated with the nickel dihalides is one of these less-conventional forms, making it appealing for fundamental and applied research.

The MIT team explored how excitons form in the nickel dihalides. More specifically, they identified the exact energies, or wavelengths, of light necessary for creating them in the three materials they studied.

“We were able to measure and identify the energy necessary to form the excitons in three different nickel halides by chemically ‘tuning,’ or changing, the halide atom from chlorine to bromine to iodine,” says Occhialini. “This is one essential step towards understanding how photons — light — could one day be used to interact with or monitor the magnetic state of these materials.” Ultimate applications include quantum computing and novel sensors.

The work could also help predict new materials involving excitons that might have other interesting properties. Further, while the studied excitons originate on the nickel atoms, the team found that they do not remain localized to these atomic sites. Instead, “we showed that they can effectively hop between sites throughout the crystal,” Occhialini says. “This observation of hopping is the first for these types of excitons, and provides a window into understanding their interplay with the material’s magnetic properties.”

A special instrument

Key to this work — in particular for observing the exciton hopping — is resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS), an experimental technique that co-authors Pelliciari and Bisogni helped pioneer. Only a few facilities in the world have advanced high energy resolution RIXS instruments. One is at Brookhaven. Pelliciari and Bisogni are part of the team running the RIXS facility at Brookhaven. Occhialini will be joining the team there as a postdoc after receiving his MIT PhD.

RIXS, with its specific sensitivity to the excitons from the nickel atoms, allowed the team to “set the basis for a general framework for nickel dihalide systems,” says Pelliciari. “it allowed us to directly measure the propagation of excitons.”

This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Basic Energy Science and Brookhaven National Laboratory through the Co-design Center for Quantum Advantage (C2QA), a DoE Quantum Information Science Research Center.

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Tax Incentives for Charitable Giving: New Findings from the TCJA

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated federal charitable giving incentives for roughly 20 percent of US income-tax payers. We study the impact of this on giving. Basic theory and our empirical results suggest heterogeneous effects for taxpayers with different amounts of itemizable expenses. Overall, the reform decreased charitable giving by about $20 billion annually. Using a new method to adjust estimates for retimed giving, we find evidence of moderate intertemporal shifts from pre-announcement of the law. The permanent price elasticity of giving estimates range from .6 for the average donor to over 2 for those predicted to be most responsive to the reform.

The authors received no funding to conduct this study. The collection of the PSID data used by the authors was partly supported by the National Institutes of Health [R01 HD069609, R01 AG040213]; and the National Science Foundation [SES 1157698, 1623684]. Collection of the Philanthropy Panel Study data within the PSID was begun in 2001 with funding from the Atlantic Philanthropies, with continuing waves funded by partnering donors; recent institutional donors include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Fidelity Charitable Catalyst Fund, Google.org Charitable Giving Fund, and The John Templeton Foundation. We are grateful for helpful comments and suggestions from participants at the 9th Annual Conference of the Science of Philanthropy Initiative, the University of Colorado Denver, and the 51st ARNOVA Annual Conference. We are also grateful to Dan Feenberg for his creation of, and providing help with, NBER’s TAXSIM. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

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