Picking a topic can sometimes be the most difficult part of a research project, but it doesn't have to be. You've likely done a lot of brainstorming in your academic lives so far. Here are a few different strategies and ways to troubleshoot your process if you're stuck. Below you'll see some strategies like freewriting, list making, and concept mapping and a way to start with those. The bottom box has examples of what those could look like. On the right, you'll see some tips to address specific problems you might encounter.
Encyclopedias are a great place to look for background information about your topic before digging a little deeper.