- Choose a topic which interests you personally!
- Your progress will usually be faster, and more fulfilling, if you are genuinely interested in your topic. You may also learn something valuable in the process. Don't overlook the importance of motivation!
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- Pick a topic no one else is likely to be working on.
- The reason? You will not have to compete with others for the available resources. There is nothing more discouraging than the discovery that all the books on the subject you have chosen are checked out to someone else!
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- Select a topic with a moderate amount of published information.
- If you choose a broad topic, you may find that there is more published information than you can assimilate in the available time. On the other hand, if you select a topic which is too specific, you may discover that not enough published information is available. When this happens, you can choose a new topic, or broaden your existing topic, to bring in more resources. Remember that if your topic is current, the best place to start may be an examination of the periodical literature.
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- Scan current magazines and scholarly journals for topic ideas.
- Try browsing recent issues of magazines and journals related to the field you are studying to develop a feel for the questions which are of current importance to scholars in that field. Current issues are available in the Current Periodicals Department on the Second Floor of Alden Library. You can also browse by subject in Academic Search Premier or SIRS Researcher, or search by subject in Britannica Online.
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- Newspapers also report on current events and can often spark interest in a particular issue. Current issues for a variety of newspapers are also kept in the Current Periodicals Department. You can also scan a newspaper database such as Newspaper Source
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- Be flexible!
- Unforeseen circumstances may require a shift of focus. It is highly likely that in the course of a research project, you will have to modify your topic at least once. Too little published information may require that you broaden your topic. If too much information is available, you will have to find a way to make your topic more specific. Sometimes, a key source turns out to be unavailable. Be sure to allow plenty of time because you may need to use the Ohiolink Central Catalog which can take several days or Interlibrary Loan which takes at least two weeks for delivery, longer during busy times in the quarter.
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- Talk with your instructor!
- If you experience difficulty in finding or refining a research topic, be sure to talk with your instructor BEFORE investing too much time and effort in the project. Your instructor may suggest alternative approaches, or be able to recommend important sources to help you get started in your search for information. He/She can be your best source for possible leads about your topic.
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- Still not sure what to choose?
- Take a look at Topics to Read, Talk, or Write About, from Ohio University's CALL Lab. It's a treasure trove of ideas--and links to information sources--on a variety of interesting topics: abortion, affirmative action, censorship, climate change, gun control, tobacco use, and many, many more. Highly recommended!
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