Which Topic To Choose??

Been back at the books for another week.  So much to read and take in.  So many concepts to grasp and get my head around.  Guess that's the whole idea of studying and learning .... to take in new ideas, digest them and work out what you're take is on the ideas presented.  It's not quite that simplistic of course, but  that's pretty much it in a nut shell.


I'm doing 2 subjects this Study Period (SP) and so that means lots of work.  Reading, writing and analysing topics, critically so the subject guide tells me.


Mostly the topics are something I can get my teeth into, pretty meaty really.  For one subject, apart from the first assignment, which is answering 4 quizzes online, I have to write a critical analysis paper of 1500 words and a Research Paper of 2000 words.  I'm a bit of a 2000 word person myself.  Some people have trouble writing that many words, but I find if I really get into a topic I like to have more words to use as much of the information that I have found as I possibly can.

I'd love this study area ... so much room instead of my little tiny table

Both subjects I'm doing are through Griffith University this time, which is a Queensland University.  The Topics for both the Critical Paper and the Research paper are the same.  We can use the same topic for both or we can use a different topic for each.  My thought is to use the same topic for both .... makes sense when you have to do research for one assignment to use the same information for the second.  


The topics are : 
1. Domestic Violence in Queensland in the 21st Century: is there an increase or decrease in the incidence of reported abuse by partners?  This will require some exploration of the history of Domestic Violence in Queensland as well as accessing recent statistics.


2.  History of Film in Australia: is the local industry still viable?  You could include some overview of the history of Australian film or simply concentrate on recent output.


3.  Volunteering as a social process: why do people volunteer to help others?  Take a specific example of volunteering, either an organisation, group of community organisations or an event and examine the evidence available.


4.  What role does the media play in forming public opinion?  Choose an example (e.g. asylum seekers, an environmental issue, foreign policy concerning a particular site) and explore the question with relevance to that example.

Right about now my head is spinning, trying to decide which topic to choose.  Think I'd better hurry up, since we are one week into the SP and I don't want to get behind.  I've realised how easy it is to get behind if you don't keep up with weekly tasks.  Procrastination is not an option here if you want to succeed in the big wide world of University.  It's a dog eat dog world out there.  These topics of course don't include the topics for my other subject, which are even more scary.  So many new words and concepts to get my head around.  


When I look at the topics and they seem scary, I tell myself to take one thing at a time.  To start at the beginning and work my way through.  It's easy to get overwhelmed with all that you have to take in and learn if you don't remain grounded.


I keep on telling myself this will all be worth it, no matter how hard it is ..... but for now, which topic to choose????