Choosing a research subject and country you can actually work with
The subject is one of four fixed choices. The country is yours — and it’s the decision that decides whether you can find material.
A fuller worked guide is on the way. The principle to start from: pick a subject you’re genuinely curious about, then pick a country where you can find at least two authentic Arabic sources covering all three aspects. Genuine interest carries you through the research stage far better than a topic that just looks manageable.
A worked example
Take Tourism (theme 3) in a country with a documented tourism economy and plenty of Arabic-language coverage — you’ll find material on the economic impact, on costs and benefits to local people, and on the effect on heritage and infrastructure. That’s all three aspects, sourced, in one country.
The trap to avoid
If you’re studying a set text for Paper 2, your research cannot relate to it. A Wadjda student choosing “social norms in Saudi Arabia” walks straight into that rule and loses marks in Paper 1 for reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of the research. Pick a different country, a different subject, or both. More on the Wadjda trap →
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