This video shows you how to shape a topic to meet the requirements of an assignment.

Start the Process

• Choose a topic that interests you.
• Tailor the topic to the requirements of the paper (e.g., length, etc.). Ask for clarification from your Professor if you need it.
• Review the guidelines for topic selection, if provided by the Professor.
• Think about where you might find information about this topic.

Test it Out

• Begin with Credo and Credo's Mind Map to find information on your topic and related topics.
• Identify keywords, terms, names, dates, etc., to use for your searches.
• Look at the bibliographies from your sources for more ideas.

Too Much Information?

• Explore ways to narrow your topic.
• Consider limiting your topic to a specific geographic area, a particular time period, a subset of the topic, etc.
• Use Credo or the Credo Mind Map to find related subjects and subsets.

Too Little Information?

• Explore ways to broaden your topic.
• If it's too specific, try broadening it to contain additional geographic areas, time periods, etc.
• If it's too new, consider changing to a topic that might have more resources available.
• Make sure you've checked all the relevant databases.
• Change your keyword search. Pay attention to the search suggestions provided by the databases.

The tools below will help guide you when choosing a topic. 

Often starting with a tertiary source (encyclopedias, etc., such as found in Credo, or issue-oriented sites such as CQ Researcher) can provide you with the background you need to begin to define your topic. 

The Credo Mind Map (see the video below) is another excellent tool for getting ideas on how to either narrow or broaden a topic.

And don't forget to tailor your topic to the proscribed length of your paper (See Understanding the Assignment under the tab Help with Writing a Research Paper).

Credo's "Mind Map" tool can help you narrow or broaden - your topic. It can also help you locate a topic. Click on the link below to learn how to use the Mind Map tool.