I am a 3rd year Super Sophomore at my community college and am finally taking English Composition II. We are focusing on research papers and I have chosen to do mine on Linux. Problem is that I need to narrow it down. the minimum page length is 6 pages (surprise). I will quote my teacher in the description of the paper: "Definition of Research Paper= To have an idea or a topic, then learn bout it.. Retell the teacher or audience all about it become the “teacher.” Not copying and rewording the information. You become the expert and the you tell about it. minimum of 6 pages no max."
I was thinking of several focused topics such as a brief intro to Linux, Linux as an alternative to Windows Vista, Linux: The virtually virus free Operating system. etc.
Any assistance is appreciated.

I say do "Linux security", you can talk as much or as little as you want on that topic.

When writing a research paper there's a great deal of things to remember. The key is to have a point that you can support, but no just reword. Remember you must have a thesis that you can support. I like the ideas of "Linux as an alternative to Windows." I always recommend to my students (I am a High School English Teacher and my paper requirement is actually longer) to wait until they do some research before they create their thesis. If you want to use the idea of Linux as an alternative, start there. What you can do is collect data and decide after you have tons of information what you actually want to talk about and discuss in your paper. You could even write a paper on the social perception of Linux and why it'll never reach popularity.

Huh ? That would be sad. I think it will reach popularity and will defeat the evil empire once and for all. Hmmm, why not do that as a topic ?

I love Linux as much as the next guy, but taking into account the level of competence of the average user (and the fact that most don't even know it exists or thinks it's too hard), I doubt it will ever destroy the evil empires. One can dream though, sigh.

//offtopic
IMO, most people are either lazy(20%), computer illiterate(30%) or have more interested things to do than tinkering with computers(50%). Also some people are afraid of computers to the point of being unable to learn anything. So NO currently existing Linux distributions will dominate market any time soon. I can remember what it took to learn slackware (1..2 months of reading manuals and constant headache, result was worth both time and effort but no one of my friend would walk the same patch to install OS), I also see how well one my parents can work with Ubuntu (can't do anything unless explained, doesn't ever try to learn anything) or operating systems in general. Maybe one day someone will create perfect distribution for "noobs", but currently it doesn't exist (all available distributions worth using but all require variable level of effort. For some people it is enough to scare them away). End of story.

Also "evil empire" isn't evil as many people like to think.

//back to the topic.
I'd choose something like "programming tools of Linux OS", "developing portable applications on Linux", "making games on Linux" etc. But that might be unaccepatble for OP (depends on skill and programming knowledge, may be too technical), although it could be fun (for me, at least) to write papers on one of these subjects.

You know, people often tell me I'm pessimistic ...

I thank you for the advice. I believe that I need a simple topic because the majority of the students in my class are simply put " Computer illiterate." They don't realize they are using Microsoft Windows. If you ask them if they are using Vista, they don't know what Vista is. I need something that anyone could understand, that I could put into layman's terms lower than computers for complete idiots. On another note, I believe that Freespire and Linspire are Distros that anyone can use because it is similar to Windows.

Then you could do general explanation of what OS is, what Vista is, and why and how Linux differs. But I think fitting that into 6 pages will be tricky.

I notice everyone is very exited by contrasting windows and linux, but I would definately go with "Linux as an example of Open Source Software". This would allow you to touch on everything you've mentioned without it becoming repetitive, and it's a topic that's unfamiliar to most people, but relatively easy to explain (thus, you can both appeal to AND satisfy a sense of curiosity).

Also, I'm sure this is more "dramatic" and interesting possibility, if you do some reading about the (very related) history of unix, AT&T, minix, etc.

Ultimately, after all, the difference between the two operating systems is more profound than the features you found in the GUI dvd rippers available: it's about technology that intends to be opaque (MS) to the user (hence easier to use, like magic) and technology that intends to be transparent and OPEN (hence more sweating heads). The perfect irony would be that, as you recognize, the opaque one ended up being far more of a security (virus) target than the open one.

Think of the fate of the people in Farenhiet 451.