Ahh...Topic Proposal

I'm trying to start my topic proposal and it's tough knowing where to begin. I checked out a few books from the library and they seem fairly helpful, but I haven't looked online yet. I think there are some good resources out there to help me with my paper but I just have to find them!

"The Region"

I finally figured out my research topic for English, and so far it is developing well. I've decided to research the history and unique diversity of northwest Indiana, affectionately known as "the Region". I was born and raised there, so conducting research should be fun and interesting. There's a lot of history packed into the small area of Lake County, and plenty of firsthand sources for interviews.

Research Topic

I am trying to think of a research topic, but I'm having a hard time. I'm not exactly sure what the parameters are, and I'm interested in what everyone else is doing. I hope I think of something soon!
P.S. I don't like the sounds of that annotated bibliography.