Between Worlds: Choose Topic

Here are a few topic guides that may help you choose a topic.

Here are a few library resources that may help you choose a topic.

STEP ONE: IDENTIFY A TOPIC 

Select a Topic:

• Scan the following titles in the library's electronic database collection:
  • Issues & Controversies
  • Opposing Viewpoints in Context
• Scan the following titles in the library's print reference collection:
  • Opposing ViewPoints series
  • Current Controversies series

Need More Help? 

• Discuss your topic ideas with your class instructor
• Discuss your topic ideas with a reference librarian
• Look over the index and the article titles in a specialized encyclopedia that covers the subject area or discipline of your topic (for example, psychology, women's studies, world history, etc.). For help locating an appropriate encyclopedia for your subject, consult a reference librarian.

Now Try:

Stating your topic idea as a question.

For example: if you are interested in finding out how the media effects women's self image, you might pose the question, "What effect does television have on women's perception of their appearance?"

Identify the main concepts or keywords in your question. In this case they are television, women, and appearance.

STEP TWO: TEST YOUR TOPIC 

Test the main concepts or keywords in your topic by looking them up in the appropriate background sources or by using them as search terms in the Cerritos College Library Catalog and in Research Databases.

• Too much information? If you are finding too many sources, narrow your topic by using the and operator.

For example: body image and women and television

• Too little information? This may indicate that you need to broaden your topic. Broaden your topic by linking synonyms with the or operator. Look for information on students, rather than college students.

For example:  women or females or girls. Using truncation with search terms also broadens the search and increases the number of items you find.