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Putting your Topic in Focus

Putting your Topic in Focus. Adapted from the Oklahoma City Community College website: http:// www.occc.edu/libraryresearch/start.html#focus.

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Putting your Topic in Focus

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  1. Putting your Topic in Focus Adapted from the Oklahoma City Community College website: http://www.occc.edu/libraryresearch/start.html#focus

  2. Any topic will be difficult to research if it is too broad or too narrow. A great way to fine-tune a topic is to use the method traditionally used by newspaper reporters-Who?-What?-Where?-When?-Why? Focus in on Your Topic

  3. A particular age group, occupation, ethnic group, men, women, etc. For example, if you are interested in writing about the environment, you might focus on the effects of air pollution on infants and children. Who is involved?

  4. What is the problem facing the "who" in your topic? • Try stating your topic as a question. • For example, if you're interested in finding out about drinking water, you might ask: Are there steps that the government can take to keep the drinking water supply from being contaminated? What is the problem?

  5. A specific country, region, city, physical environment, rural vs. urban? • For example: What environmental issues are most important in the southern plains area of the U.S. Where is it happening?

  6. Is this a current issue or an historical event? • Will you discuss the historical development of a current problem? • Example: How do current environmental laws affect the Chesapeake Bay? • Example: How did past environmental laws affect the Chesapeake Bay today? When is this happening?

  7. You may want to focus on causes, or argue the importance of this problem by outlining historical or current consequences. • You may want to persuade your instructor or class why they should care about the issue. • Example: Why are some states seriously investigating wind power opportunities now? Why is it happening / Why is this a problem?

  8. It is common to modify your topic during the research process. Be flexible!

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