Narrowing a topic requires you to create a specific question about something that interests you. This will focus your research and make your information-gathering process more manageable.
Think about the who? what? where? when? and why? about your topic.
For example: if you want to write about social media you will need to narrow your topic to a specific question so that you are not overwhelmed with information. Use the questions below to help you get started.
Who? is the specific person or group on which you will focus?
What? aspect of the topic is interesting to you?
Where? is the geographic area or region you would like to study?
When? what time period will be your focus?
Why? is it important to study this topic?
Here's an example using the above questions.
Broad topic: TikTok
Who? teenage girls
What? social or psychological aspects
Where? United States
When? within the last four years (2020-2024)
Why? social media influences people's behavior
Possible research questions:
How has TikTok negatively affected young women's perception about body image?
In what ways is social media harmful to girls' self-esteem?
