Learning more about your family's history is a good place to start looking for paper ideas. Ask your parents and older relatives where your ancestors came from and where they settled, and consider researching what life was like in those places. Ask your parents if any of your ancestors were prominent figures or if they left letters or memoirs behind. Make sure, however, to discuss the broader historical context of your subjects -- a history research paper is more than just a genealogy.
Ask your instructor about interesting events, people or movements in your area. Local history topics give you more convenient access to sources in the form of local archives and interview subjects as well as a chance to better understand your community. If the assignment asks you to focus on the World War II period, for example, consider exploring how women in your community supported the war effort on the homefront.
Historical research papers give you the opportunity to explore topics that might not get much attention in traditional history courses. Consider focusing on movements for social justice like the women's liberation or gay liberation movements of the 1960s and 1970s. If you are interested in music or sports, consider exploring topics like the history of rock and roll in the American South or the desegregation of Major League Baseball. Cultural and social history offer endless ideas for topics that complement your own interests.
Depending on the requirements for the assignment, your sources may limit which ideas you can pursue. Before you commit to a topic, find out what sources you will need to consult and where those sources are located. If your instructor wants you to do primary research, for example, it may be easier to focus on local topics with readily available sources in your area.