Tips for Topic Selection
1. Pick a topic you're interested in. Duh! :) But seriously, you'll stay more invested in both your research and writing if you truly want to find out the answer to something. If you're a year or two from graduation, this is a great time to start thinking about what will make you stand out at the job interview. What little 'extra something' can you discover about your major or profession that will make you a cut above the rest?
2. Take the time to browse. We have a Journal Room upstairs where you can actually touch the journals and magazine we own. Or you can search our databases for some general topics just to see what is currently being published in that area. You can even browse our bookshelves by using the call numbers for subject areas.
3. Find your focus. You have an idea, but you may not know how you're going to focus it? That's okay. Search CQ Researcher, Gale Virtual Reference Library, other Reference sources, or even Wikipedia for background information on your broad topic. The elements that jump out at you as being the most interesting will help you figure out how to focus & narrow your topic.
4. Review your assignment so you have a good idea of the scope of the project. Will you be able to cover the topic you've selected in only 5-10 pages?
5. Pay attention. Talk to people. Watch the news. Listen to the radio. What is currently going on that is grabbing your attention? Use your personal or professional interests to guide you.
Magazines
The links below provide you direct access to these magazines via our library databases. All of them except for Adbusters can be found in EBSCO Academic Search Premier.
- Utne Reader
- The Economist
- Scientific American
- Scientific American Mind
- Psychology Today
- Foreign Policy
- Bitch
- The New Yorker
- Adbusters via Alternative Press Index put 'adbusters' in the search box and change the pull-down menu to say 'Source'
Advanced Search Techniques
1. Keywords, Broader terms, Narrower terms
Use a variety of keywords to describe your topic. If you begin your research by using reference materials such as encyclopedias, you will often run across vocabulary to describe your topic that you may not have thought of on your own.
- global warming or climate change
- alternative fuel, ethanol, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, emissions
- "war on drugs"
- "interpersonal relationship*"
- flood* --> flood, floods, flooding
- psycholog* --> psychology, psychological, psychologist
- (television OR TV) AND (women OR female*)
- "war on drugs" AND Mexico AND United States
- dolphins NOT football
Your Librarian |
Cathy Cranston |  |
Contact Info:
141 Morgan Library
970.491.1906
Email Cathy
Subjects:
Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, Music, Theatre, Dance
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