Choose a Topic
Before you develop your research topic or question, you'll need to do some background research first.
Some good places to find background information:
- Your textbook or class readings
- Encyclopedias and reference books (available at the library, online and in print!)
- Library databases
- Credible websites
Try the library databases below to explore your topic. When you're ready, move on to refining your topic.
Find Background Information:
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LitBaseMore extensive version of Literary Reference Source. Includes literary criticism, author biographies, classics, drama, poetry, world literature, and other literary resources.
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Opposing Viewpoints in ContextPro/Con articles, background information, articles, and other resources on current social issues.
Now that you've done some background research, it's time to narrow your topic. Remember: the shorter your final paper, the narrower your topic needs to be. Here are some suggestions for narrowing and defining your topic:
- Is there a specific subset of the topic you can focus on?
- Is there a cause and effect relationship you can explore?
- Is there an unanswered question on the subject?
- Can you focus on a specific time period or group of people?
Describe and develop your topic in some detail. Try filling in the blanks in the following sentence, as much as you can:
I want to research ____(what/who)____
and ____(what/who)____
in ____(where)____
during ____(when)____
because ____(why)____.