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Research As a Discussion

Choose a Topic

 

Questions to help choose a topic:

1. Assignment requirements for topic?

2. Interests? Topic you want to learn more about? 
   Will it keep your attention for weeks? 

  • Check with your teacher.
  • Look in textbook or encyclopedia.

3. Problem to solve?

4. Not enough information on the topic?

  • Do a quick search to see if there is enough information on your topic.
  • Need to broaden the topic? (See Think Hierarchically below)
  • Librarians can help you.
5. Too much information on the topic?
  • Do a quick search to see if there is too much information on your topic.
  • Need to narrow the topic? (See Think Hierarchically below)
  • Librarians can help you.

6. Can information be gathered and organized in
   the alotted time?

Tip: Think Hierarchically

You can always narrow or broaden your topic 

          1. Go up the hierarchy to find more specific topics.

          2. Go down the hierarchy to find broader topics.

          3. Go to the right or left on the hierarchy to find related topics.

 

Think of a Tree

     Burr oak trees

                                  Oak trees
 
     Trees                      Flowers
     
      Plants
       
                         
                                   Biology  

                            

       Science        

 

Good tools for narrowing a topic by finding subtopics: