Assignment Topic Change

You chose a research essay topic three weeks ago, but after reading further you have found almost no reliable sources on it. Another topic from the approved list suits you better. Speak to your lecturer after class: explain the problem, propose the new topic, and ask whether you can switch without any penalty.

Excuse me, do you have a moment? I wanted to talk about my research essay. Three weeks ago I chose the topic on rural water policy, but since then I've searched the library databases thoroughly and found barely any peer-reviewed sources. I'm worried the essay would end up quite thin. I noticed that topic seven on the approved list, urban housing affordability, has a much stronger literature base, and it links to my other unit. Would it be possible to switch to that one without a penalty? I'd really appreciate your advice.