Selecting a Topic

An Online Tutorial Taking You Through the Steps of the Library Research Process Selecting a Topic

Tutorial Contents:

Library Map & Virtual Tour
Avoiding Impulse Buys
Size & Shape of Information
Most Bang for Your Buck
Trying it on for Size
Don't Shoplift!

Sometimes the most difficult hurdle you face when beginning research is selecting your topic.

When selecting your topic you want to make sure that:

	It meets the requirements of the assignment. Make sure it is appropriate to the length and timeframe of the assignment.
	It is something you are very interested in and want to learn more about.
	It is broad enough that you will be able to find information on it, but narrow enough that you will be able to avoid a general treatment of the topic.

You want to be careful of topics that are too:

	Broad
	Narrow
	Controversial or emotional
	Recent

This does not mean you can not pick topics that fall in to one or more of these categories. It just means it will be more difficult either to locate information or deal effectively with the information you find.