Introduction to Research

Refining your topic is a lot like trying on outfits. You have to make sure it fits just right and is appropriate for the occasion. 

• If your topic is too broad for the assignment, it might be hard to say anything specific and meaningful about it in your essay.
• If your topic is too narrow, the impact of your claims will be very limited, and you’ll probably have trouble finding relevant sources to support your ideas.

The quickest and easiest way to narrow your topic is to jot down a few notes answering the following questions. Once you’ve recorded your initial response to each question, consider how you might focus on a more specific aspect of it. In the example below, your starting topic is “Free Speech.”

• What part of your topic would you like to focus on the most?

-Free speech (starting) -> The impact of online cancel culture on free speech (focused)

• Who do you plan to study? This could be a specific person or group.

-Americans (starting) -> American Twitter users (focused)

• Where (geographically) does your topic primarily apply to or take place?

-The United States

• When is the time period you plan to study? 

-Present day (starting) -> 2017-2022 (focused)

• Why is your topic important?

-Free speech is the cornerstone of democracy (starting) -> Cancel culture raises significant questions about balancing the values of free speech and social justice

When you’re not finding the sources you need for your topic, it could be that your topic is too narrow and you need to broaden it some. The quickest and easiest way to broaden your topic is to jot down a few notes answering the following questions.

• What other situations or events are similar to my topic? Can I find information about that situation or event and use research related to that?
• When did the thing I’m trying to research happen? Is it too recent for the types of sources I’m trying to find? Can I use other types of sources that might have more relevant information?
• Am I looking for research about a specific location? Are there other locations that are similar enough that I can use that research?