SPAN 312: El español en los medios de comunicación

Text description of "Brainstorming Keywords" for web accessibility

Watch this short video from NC State University Libraries about choosing a research topic.

This graphic emphasizes how reading various sources can play a role in defining your research topic.

(Click to Enlarge Image)

Text description of "From Topic to Question" for web accessibility

If you're not sure where to start with your research question, create a mind map and use the 6 question words to think about your topic.

Mind Maps by Tom Peterson © 2013 Thunderhead Works. All Rights Reserved. Used for educational purposes only under Fair Use.

Narrowing/broadening a topic tips

Narrowing

If your topic is broad, consider asking yourself the 6 Ws (who, what, when, where, why, and how) and trying a combination of these elements with your broad topic:

• WHO: Population (age, gender, ethnicity, etc.)
• WHAT: Type based on the topic (example: topic is renewable energy, types could be wind energy, solar energy, etc.)
• WHEN: Choose a timeframe (time period or time in life)
• WHERE: Choose a location (states, region, country, etc.)
• WHY: Why does it matter to research this topic?
• HOW: How will I go about finding information on this topic?

Examples with the topic concussions in sports:

• WHO: Kid sports and concussions
• WHAT: Kids and football concussions
• WHEN: College football players and concussions
• WHERE: Concussions of college football players in the United States
• WHY: Effects of concussions on college football players later in life
• HOW: Searching sports databases and journals and medical magazines and newspapers

Research Question: What is the effect on adults of sports concussions received in childhood?

Broadening 

If you're not finding information on your topic, it might be too narrow and needs to be broadened. Consider removing a word or element from your research question/thesis/topic.

Image from Unbxd, all rights reserved. Used for educational purposes only under Fair Use.

Pause to Reflect

Step one not only requires that you come up wth a research question or topic that is narrow enough to explore for an undergraduate research paper, but it also requires that you consider what type of information you will need to find in order to answer your research question.

1. Is your topic so large you could write a whole book or PhD dissertation on it? If so, you should try to narrow your topic down to something manageable within the time you have and the number of pages or words your instructor is requiring.
2. Is your topic so specific that you can't find information about it? Go to step 3 to learn how to search more strategically and broaden your search out a bit.
3. Do you need some basic facts, dates, or names of historical people or specific theories? If so, go on to step 2: Find Background Information.
4. When you are ready, go to step 3 to learn how and where to search for information on your topic.

 Mount Hood reflected in Mirror Lake, Oregon, USA. Image in Public Domain.