Selection (Cameron Talley, from Flickr)
If you were going to write about one part of this picture which one would you choose? The cars? The riverboat? The train tracks? the layers of rock in the mountainside? Selecting a topic gives your paper a focus.
2: Select & Focus Topic
Step 2:
Now that you have carefully read and understood your assignment, you can concentrate on choosing a topic and focusing on what aspect(s) about this topic will be the basis of your assignment.
- Choosing a TopicSometimes selecting a topic can be daunting. The section “Choosing a Topic” in the Introduction to Library Research Tutorial will prompt you with suggestions on possible topic ideas. If you’re still struggling with this step, help is always available from your professor or research librarian. Find a librarian by clicking on the next link.
- Focusing Your TopicThe research guide, "Focusing Your Research Paper" will help you narrow the topic you are considering, develop questions your paper will answer about this topic, and find the sources to support what you have written.
