Focusing research topic

Focusing your research topic

I’ve got my research topic.I’m ready to start researching.

What’s your topic?

Vegans. I like vegans.

Especially, Natalie Portman

Let the research begin!

63,600,000 results

Dang. Maybe I don’t like vegans.

Don’t blame the vegans.You have too big a topic.

You have to narrow it down.

How do I do that?

Let’s start by asking questions

1st Question

What are the parts of your topic, and how do they relate to one another?

Topic

What are the parts of your topic, and how do they relate to one another?

Sink

Faucet

Drain

Water

Porcelain

What are the parts of your topic, and how do they relate to one another?

Vegan

Food

Politics

People

Health

Are there different kinds of vegans? How much variety is in the vegan diet?

What clothing restrictions do vegans have?Are animal products used in other things besides

food and clothing?How political is the vegan movement?

Does a vegan diet help or hurt your overall health?

Do vegans own pets?Are vegans happier? healthier?

Topic: Vegans

What are the parts of your topic, and how do they relate to one another?

Topic

Now, your turn...

Write 10 questions on the sub parts of your topic

2nd Question

How is your topic part of a larger system?

Topic

How is your topic part of a larger system?

Sink

Bathroom

KitchenHomes

Plumbing

How is your topic part of a larger system?

Vegan

Health

Animal RightsFood ProductionVegetarianism

What contributes to people living longer: better health or better medicine?

Are humans meant to be carnivores?Do animals have personalities?

Do animals have a soul?What influences our food choices?

Is our food production helping or hurting the world’s population?

Is it better to be vegetarian or vegan?Are cows treated better in India than in the U.S.?

Topic: Vegans

Now, your turn...

Write 10 questions on the larger systems your topic is a part of.

How is your topic part of a larger system?

Topic

3rd Question

CategoriesHow can your topic be grouped into kinds?

Topic: Vegans

Vegans by choiceVegans by necessityChild-Teen vegans

Vegan athletesIndian vegans

Celebrity vegansPolitical vegansVegan ranchers

Vegan chefs

How does your topic compare to and contrast with others like it?

Are vegan diets more popular than vegan lifestyles?

How do Indian vegans compare to vegans in the U.S.?

How are the reasons people choose veganism similar or different?

Are all animal rights activists vegan?Do teen vegans do better in school?

Are child vegans healthier than non-vegan children?

How do vegan athletes compare with non-vegan athletes?

Are you considered vegan if your food allergies force you to eat a vegan diet?

Topic: Vegans

Now, your turn...

Write 10 questions comparing and contrasting these different types

How can your topic be grouped into kinds?

TopicType 1:____________Type 2:____________Type 3:____________Type 4:____________Type 5:____________Type 6:____________

4th Question

How and why has your topic changed through time, as something with its own history?

Topic nowTopic beforeTopic before

1988 19941983 19981990

How has the number of vegans changed over time?

Is veganism a trend that will disappear soon?Have vegans become more or less political over

time?Have the reasons people choose to become

vegan changed?What historical figures made people aware of

veganism?Were vegans always linked to the animal rights

movement?

Topic: Vegans

Now, your turn...

Write 10 questions on how your topic has changed over time

How and why has your topic changed through time, as something with its own history?

Topic nowTopic beforeTopic before

5th Question

How and why is your topic an episode in a larger history?

1920 1940 1960 1980 2008

Feminism orPop Music or

Fashion

How has our food supply changed over time?Has the change in food production affected our

diet choices?Has the rise of factory farming turned more

people into vegans?Have we become kinder or crueler to animals

over time?How have restaurants or cafeterias changed as a

result of the vegan movement?

Topic: Vegans

Now, your turn...

Write 10 questions on the larger history your topic is connected to

How and why is your topic an episode in a larger history?

1920 1940 1960 1980 2008Topic

6th Question

How good or bad is your topic? Is it useful?

GoodBad

How good or bad is your topic? Is it useful?

GoodBad

Is a vegan diet safe for kids?Are vegans more ethical than carnivores?

Do vegans deny their own animal instincts?If animals kill and eat each other, why shouldn’t

we?Is there a way to eat an animal and feel good

about it?Are vegans forcing their lifestyle on others?

Is it possible to live without consuming animal products?

Don’t we need to control the animal population?

Topic: Vegans

Now, your turn...

Write 10 questions evaluating the pros and cons of your topic

Evaluate your topic: What do you like and not like about it?

Like about topicGoodBad

Don’t like about topic

6th Question

Ask What if? and other speculative questions

What if McDonalds only sold vegan food?What if every school had a working farm?

If everyone had to slaughter their own animals, would more people be vegan?

Would cows overpopulate the earth if everyone were vegan?

Would animals eat us if we didn’t eat them?What if fruits and vegetables were subsidized by

the government?

Topic: Vegans

Now, your turn...

Write 10 What if? and other speculative questions about your topic

I’m exhausted.

Good! Now let’s organizeyour questions into categories

Which questions can you answer in a reference work? (Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Dictionary)

Mark these with an XThese are the questions that are easiest to answerand should not be the focus of your research paper

Which questions may lead to interesting debates?

Mark these with a

These are the questions that are harder to answer and will lead to a better research paper

Which questions are most interesting to you?

Mark these with a

These are the questions that will motivate you to find the answers and make it easier to write the paper

Done. Can I research now?

Yes. Start with a more specific question

and you’ll get more targeted results.

And use the library database instead of Google.

Start here

Type question or key words into search

box

Fewer, more targetedresults!

From reputable sources!

Abstract summarizesarticle

Allows you to save document for easy

retrieval

Once you find a good article, use this find

more like it

Works just as well with

the other databases

Type question or keywords into search

box

Fewer, more targeted results!

From reputable sources!

Other, more targeted ways to search!

See how easy?

Success!

Advantages of brainstorming research questions

More specific topics make research faster and easier

More specific topics make research more interestingMore specific topics makes your work more original

Advantages of using the library database instead of Google

Faster and easier to find reputable information

Sources are more relevant to your topicSources are higher quality and peer reviewed

Your assignment:

1. 50 questions on your research topic

3. One article from the database that answers question

2. Categorize types of questions with X

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