Research 101: 1. Develop Your Topic

Scholarship Is A Conversation:  

• As you begin your research and pick a topic, be aware that you are joining a converation. 

Research As Inquiry:

• As you research and learn more, you will find yourself asking increasingly complex questions to understand the conversation. (Source: ACRL Standards)

Watch the video below to get prepared. 

Video source: KStateLibraries

To join the conversation, you'll need to focus on a specific question as described in the video. Here are some steps to help you. 

• Pick a general topic. 
• Brainstorm, think about all of the ways, or angles, one can use to look at the topic (for example, science, education, health, etc.)
• Think of a question.
  • Remember to answer the 4 W's: Whom does it involve, what does it involve, where, and when? 
• If you need some help thinking of topic ideas, refer to the sheet below titled, "376 Topic Ideas." 
• You can also print off the Research Question Worksheet below to record your question and your keywords for the next tab.