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Narrowing Your Topic by Focusing On...
- Social Aspect
- Cultural Aspect
- Historical Aspect (time)
- Type
- Place
- Combining two similar topics*
- Combining two or more of the aspects above
- Join together related concepts
The Five Commandments of Writing Research Papers
- Thou shalt do some background reading, think hard, and speak with the professor in order to identify a topic.
- Thou shalt have a clear research question.
- Thou shalt do real research.
- Thou shalt make an argument.
- Thou shalt write well.
Encyclopedias: Background Research
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Gale Virtual Reference Library Simultaneously search 200 specialized encyclopedias--all subjects Reference - Tertiary Source - you nornmally do not cite from this source.
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Hot Topics & Current Issues
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Points of View Reference Center Points of View Reference Center contains a balance of materials from all viewpoints, including more than 1,300 main essays, leading political magazines from both sides of the aisle, newspapers, radio & TV news transcripts, primary source documents and reference books. Each of the main essays includes links to related full-text articles hand-picked by the editor.
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Opposing Viewpoints in Context Opposing Viewpoints in Context is covers today’s hottest social issues, and contains pro/con viewpoint essays, topic overviews, primary source documents, periodical articles, statistical tables, charts and graphs, images, podcasts, etc.
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CQ Researcher CQ Researcher provides award winning in-depth coverage of the most important issues of the day. Our reports are written by experienced journalists, footnoted and professionally fact-checked. Full-length articles include an overview, historical background, chronology, pro/con feature, plus resources for additional research. Graphics, photos and short "sidebar" features round out the reports. Shorter "Hot Topics" articles provide a solid introduction to subjects most in demand by students.
