Selecting a topic can be a challenging task, here are some tips:
- Choose a topic that you're interested in! The research process will be more fun if you're studying a topic you care about.
- Try to keep your topic up to date and current.
- Narrow your topic:
- If your topic is too broad, your research can become overwhelming - try to make your research manageable.
- Reading topic overviews of your topic reading can help.
- Think of the who, what, where, when and why questions:
- WHO are the information providers on this topic? Who might publish information about it? Who is affected by the topic? Do you know of organizations or institutions affiliated with the topic?
- WHAT are the major questions for this topic? Is there a debate about the topic? Are there a range of issues and viewpoints to consider?
- WHERE is your topic important: at the local, national or international level? Are specific places affected by the topic?
- WHEN is/was your topic important? Is it a current event or an historical issue? Do you want to compare your topic by time periods?
- WHY did you choose the topic? What interests you about it? Do you have an opinion about the issues involved?
