If your topic is too broad or vague you will find too much information and will need to narrow the focus.
Example: I'm thinking of doing a paper on "fashion." This topic could develop in many different ways.
Hint: Ask Yourself Questions About Your Topic:
- What do you know about it? What don't you know?
- What aspects of your topic interest you: historical, sociological, psychological, etc.?
- What time period do you want to cover?
- On what geographic region do you want to focus?
- What kind of information do you need?
- A brief summary or a lengthy explanation?
- Periodical articles, books, essays, encyclopedia articles?
- Statistics?
Sample Topic Narrowing Chart:
| General Topic |
fashion |
| Time Span |
1920s |
| Place |
US; urban; big cities (not rural) |
| Person or Group |
youth; college age |
| Event or Aspects |
sexual attitudes; behavior; sociological |