Narrow your subject by focusing on a smaller piece of the larger subject. Your
focus can be a cause, effect, mystery, case study, controversy or issue. This focus will be your paper topic.
For Example:
Subject
Topic
Energy
Solar Energy
Sports
Sport Salaries
Work
Job Satisfaction
Do some preliminary research, such as reading an encyclopedia article and a
few magazine articles. This will increase your knowledge of your
topic, help you decide if you need to focus or narrow the topic more
and give you an idea of resources available at the library for your
research.
Your paper should have a goal (thesis). As you do preliminary research, write
down questions about your topic. Choose one as a major question or
goal of your paper and concentrate on research for that goal.
For Example:
Topic: Solar Energy
Questions:
Is solar energy the best energy source? Is solar energy practical in the northern climates?
Goal (thesis): The use of solar energy
can be effective when used along with
another energy source, such as
natural gas or oil.
Doing Research
After choosing your topic:
Collect facts from a VARIETY of sources:
books, magazines, journals or websites (IF allowed).
Record quotes and ideas with their source
information to build your bibliography.
Organize your notes and make an outline.
Write your paper, allowing time to do at least
one draft and revision.
Double check facts, quotes, grammar, spelling
and punctuation.
Any questions? Ask the Librarian at the Information
Desk for help.
