• Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" is thought of as the great American novel.a stack of books image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  Mark Twain, born Samuel Clemens, was a prolific author, essayist, lecturer and satirist known for his wit. As one of the most heavily quoted American writers due to his cutting social commentary, Twain is a meaty subject for research papers. Students can choose from a vast scope of topics to write about, from examining his novels' satire to discussing how the author's life and values are reflected in his work. Choose a topic that interests you as you're sure to find a wealth of material on Twain no matter what you write about.
  
  

Mark Twain's Social Commentary

• Discuss the influence Mark Twain's novels and public lectures had on American politics and social values and examine how these views are relevant today. This research topic is suited for a politics, history, current events or literature class. Archives from newspapers and contemporary sociology books could be used as sources to compare and contrast how social values are or are not reflected in the actions of today's politicians. Cite current events that reflect the country's social values today and discuss how these events are portrayed in books and other media. Compare and contrast current events with the historical events that Twain wrote about. Has the character of the government of the United States changed since Twain's day? How have the values of society changed and how have they stayed the same?
  
  

How Did Mark Twain Use Satire?

• How did Mark Twain use satire in "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" to comment on slavery and imperialism? Few satirists since Twain have come close to his level of wit and humor. Examine the humor in "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." Does the humor still work today? Why or why not? How did Twain's peers respond to this humor? What are examples of popular satire and contemporary humorists, and how are they similar to Twain's work? How are they different?
  
  

Race and Imperialism

• How were Mark Twain's attitudes about race and imperialism changed by his world travels? Twain wrote a number of travel books later in life. His opinions on race were changed by these travels and the friends he made in life (Harriet Beecher Stowe was his Connecticut neighbor). An ardent imperialist in the 1890s, Twain reversed this position when he became vice president of the American Anti-Imperialist League in 1899. You could compare one of his early novels to a travel book like "Following the Equator" (1897), or cite political pamphlets Twain wrote after 1899. What is the difference between destiny and imperialism? Compare Twain's racial attitudes to those of his friend Rudyard Kipling.