Optional Thesis Topics

The following thesis topics are examples of the type of arguments that can be made in a thesis paper. Feel free to use these topics for your paper or as inspiration. Notice that some of them are suggestions, which would need to be narrowly defined in order to be a proper topic.

Lastly, keep in mind that in a thesis, you are taking a side and attempting to prove something. This means that your thesis topic will have to be a statement, and NOT A QUESTION. For example, the topic regarding the similarities between the United States and Roman republics could be done as:

  1. The United States government operates on principles based on the Roman Republic.
  2. The major differences between the United States government and the Roman Republic.
  3. How the United States’ history is parallel to that of the Roman Republic.

Literature

  1. What is the difference between the modern day version of Drama, and that of Classical and Shakespearean literature? (How does modern day literature handle tragedy, comedy, and history differently?)
  1. How are modern day perceptions of Heaven and Hell affected by literature? (Examine Dante’s Divine Comedy, Milton’s Paradise Lost, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and Shakespeare’s plays)
  1. The Lord of the Flies presents a bleak view of humanity. Essentially, humans are savages at heart, and civilization is a ruse. Argue whether or not this is true. Cite examples of human behavior that support your argument.
  1. What is considered mainstream literature has changed several times over civilization. Initially, it was epic poetry in antiquity. Plays became the form during the classical period. Epic poetry had a revival in the middle ages, followed by a resurgence of plays during the renaissance. For most of modern times, the main form has been novels, but it is shifting to visual mediums such as television, the computer and movies. What has caused these changes?
  1. James Fenimore Cooper has long been considered the first true ‘American’ author. Is this the case, or does that honor belong to someone else, such as Poe or Twain?

History

  1. Throughout history there have been many ‘last stand’ battles. (Rorke’s Drift, The Alamo, Thermopylae, Agincourt, Camerone, Little Big Horn, etc.) There is a tendency to recognize the outnumbered army as the heroes, and the larger army as the villains. Analyze why this occurs. (Or make an argument for why the larger armies are actually the ‘good guys’.)
  1. The Dark Ages has a reputation for being a time of little to no advancement in human history. Argue that significant improvements in art, religion, philosophy, and science were being made at the time.
  1. The first successful republic in human history was the Roman Republic. What similarities and differences does the government of the United States have with this classical state?
  1. History contains many “What If?” scenarios. What would have happened if Caesar or Kennedy had not been assassinated? What might have caused Hitler to win World War II? What if the United States had not dropped the atomic bombs on Japan? Take one of these What If scenarios, and explain what would have occurred.
  1. How did the French Revolution affect the rest of Europe? Was it the cause of the shift from Monarchial governments to Republican governments, or was it a symptom?

Psychology

  1. Profiling is a frequently used method for apprehending criminals and terrorists. Argue whether this policy is effective or ineffective in apprehending criminals/preventing crime.
  1. How does Post Traumatic Stress Disorder occur, and is it a curable condition?
  1. The divorce rate in the United States is roughly 60%. What are the major causes of divorce, and why are couples having trouble dealing with these aspects of marriage? (Conversely, you can do a paper on successful marriages and what they are doing differently that enables them to survive the test of time.
  1. The philosopher Nietzsche once said that, “Insanity in individuals is rare, in groups…. It is the norm.” Explain how ‘mob’ mentality works, and why people will indulge in behaviors amid a group of people, when they would not commit such acts on their own.
  1. It has become commonly said that people are more afraid of public speaking more than death. What is the real story behind this aphorism? Is this a legitimate psychological issue? Is it true, or is it a conditional situation?

Politics

  1. The Democrats and Republicans have been the two dominant parties in American politics for a century. Why are they so powerful, and why are third parties unable to compete with them?
  1. Despite a low approval rating, George W. Bush won the 2004 election. What factors caused this to occur?
  1. Is universal health care a realistic goal for the United States? Why or why not? (Is it working in countries other than the United States?)
  1. The European Union is fairly young. Is it handling the current European financial crisis well, or is it struggling?
  1. Many African, Asian and Middle Eastern countries were once controlled by Europeans. Choose one. How does the legacy of European colonization/ownership continue to affect that nation?

Entertainment

  1. Explain why many networks have been replacing sitcoms with reality shows. What is the cause of this phenomenon?
  1. Many modern ‘documentaries’ are actually editorials in disguise. Choose one (An Inconvenient Truth, Super Size Me, anything by Michael Moore, etc.) and write about how accurate/inaccurate it is.)
  1. Modern censorship (in America) is stricter with regards to sexual content as opposed to violent content. Why is this the case?
  1. The AFI often talks about ‘culturally significant’ films. What makes a film culturally significant? Choose a film and explain its impact on society.
  1. Choose a film which is based on a historical event or a novel. How accurate is the film? What are the changes/differences? Why were they made? Were they justified?

Religion

  1. Explain how the spread of Islam and the Crusades have influenced modern relations between Christianity and Islam.
  1. Explain one of the following: How Christianity became its own religion, how Judaism has changed since WWII, or the breakup of Islam into the Sunni and Shiite factions.
  1. Relate how pagan religions from the past two millennia continue to influence modern day society.
  1. It appears that as scientific progress is made, atheism becomes more prominent. Why is this the case? Is religion anti-science? Is science anti-religion?
  1. Many classical philosophies such as Epicureanism and Stoicism are similar to religions in that they advocate a particular lifestyle. What philosophies continue to influence us in modern day times.

Sociology

  1. Is a true communist society possible? Why or why not?
  1. It has been said that the United States does not actually have a culture. Define culture and explain whether or not this is true.
  1. Does punishment affect the crime rate? In other words, are criminals intimidated by the enforcement of the law?
  1. Is the anti-immigration movement one with a realistic and grounded goal, or one that is influenced by racism?
  1. Compare women’s employment opportunities and salaries with men’s opportunities and salaries. Is sexism still a major factor in whether or not people receive jobs and how much they are paid? Explain.