Keep it manageable. A topic will be very difficult to research if it is too broad or too narrow. Common ways to narrow a broad topic like "the environment" are:
- by geographic region
- Example: What environmental issues are most important in the Southwestern United States?
- by culture
- Example: How does the environment fit into the Navajo world view?
- by time frame
- Example: What are the most prominent environmental issues of the last 10 years?
- by discipline
- Example: How does environmental awareness effect business practices today?
- by population group
- Example: What are the effects of air pollution on seniors citizens?
Remember that a topic will be more difficult to research if it is too:
- locally confined - Topics this specific may only be covered in local newspapers, if at all!
- Example: What sources of pollution affect the Ogden valley water supply?
- recent - Be aware if a topic is very recent, books and journal articles will not be available, but newspaper and magazine articles will. Websites may or may not be available.
- Example: Events that happened yesterday or last week
If you have any uncertainties about the focus of your topic, discuss it with your instructor or a librarian.
