Final answer:
Maggie's professor likely considered her research paper idea unworkable or unsuitable for academic research, due to reasons like insufficient evidence, lack of originality, or not meeting assignment criteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Maggie’s professor said her idea for a research paper wasn’t viable, the professor most likely meant that her idea was not workable or suitable for the purpose of academic research. This could be due to a number of reasons such as lacking in sufficient evidence, not being original, or not being specific enough to develop a full research paper.
It could also be that the idea did not meet the requirements of the assignment or was not pertinent to the course material. Revising the idea, as other students have done to improve their work, may involve refining the research question, considering other perspectives, or ensuring it has a solid basis in current academic discourse.