WAYS TO FIND A HISTORY TOPIC:

Here is what we said in class:

--heard about  topic of interest in history class...want to know more.

--family history

--interests…care about

--writing is productive

Here is from a UNC website:
Procedures

If you are enrolled in a class that requires a research paper or an essay, you may complete this exercise by working on that assignment (make sure you have your professor’s permission).  Otherwise, you are free to chose a topic about which you would like to know more.

1. Begin by listing all the possible topics that occur to you. Put down anything, from topics you would personally like to know more about to topics you think you should know more about.2. Group your potential topics (put similar topics together, making perhaps a single topic that includes others); then rank them in order of importance; your preferred topic should be first.
3. Think about your preferred topic: List everything that you already know about it and the questions about it that you would like to have answered.  Consulting a standard reference work (not Wikipedia) is advisable.
4. Using both your knowledge and your questions, write a rough draft of your topic statement. Explain your subject clearly (including information regarding people, places, time frame, etc.) and list the questions (see Rampolla on historical questions, pp. 3-4) you want answered. Also explain why the topic is worth researching.
5. Go to the library or other resources (including the Internet) and find out if primary and secondary materials are available to get you started. You should find at least four or five items, including at least two primary sources and one article in a scholarly journal.  These items will make up your Preliminary Bibliography.
6. If adequate materials are available locally, then write a version of your topic statement and preliminary bibliography following the required format and turn it in to your instructor.
7. Using the suggestions from your instructor, prepare a revised Statement of Topic and an Annotated Bibliography at at least 10 items (see the handout on the Annotated Bibliography for complete instructions) following the required format and turn it in on the due date.

http://www2.uncp.edu/home/rwb/hst300t1.htm