ENG 1100 - Academic Writing and Reading: 2. Search Strategies

If you are not finding enough information, your topic may be too narrow. 

Example:

Narrow Topic: Does cartoon viewing cause violent behaviors in children under the age of five? 

Broader Topic: What are the negative effects of television viewing on children and adolescents?

Consider broadening it by

• Exploring related issues.
• Comparing or contrasting the topic with another topic.
• Expanding the
  • time period covered;
  • population considered;
  • geographic area discussed.
• Choosing an alternative topic that is not so recent -- your topic may not be covered in books and journal articles yet.
• Choosing an alternative topic that is not so popular -- your topic may be covered in popular magazines and tabloids only.

If you are finding too much information, your topic may be too broad.

Example:

Broad Topic: How can we solve the problem of organized crime?

Narrower Topic: How valid is the argument that legalizing currently illegal drugs would diminish the crime rate?

Consider narrowing it by:

• Time period -- 1960s, bronze age, etc.
• Geographic location -- Denver, New York, Australia, etc.
• Population -- age, race, gender, nationality or other group.

• Smaller piece of the topic:

  • Genre -- jazz (music)
  • Event -- Battle of the Bulge (WWII)
  • Aspect -- government regulations (pollution)
  • Discipline or Subject -- music (in early childhood education)

Once you have identified some key terminology, the next step is to find background information on your topic.  Background research serves many purposes.

• If you are unfamiliar with the topic, it provides a good overview of the subject matter.

• It helps you to identify important facts related to your topic: terminology, dates, events, history, and names or organizations.

• It can help you to refine your topic.

Use these databases to find background information: