How to Narrow or Broaden Your Topic

Be prepared to be flexible with your topic idea!

• If it is too broad or vague you will find too much information and will need to narrow the focus.
  
If it is too specific or specialized or new, it will be difficult finding enough information to write your paper this quarter. In that case, you will need to broaden your idea.

Think about your information requirements. When analyzing your assignment, you will also want to consider the type,
quantity, and format of information you will need. Answering the following questions may help you organize your research:

• What kind of assignment do you have to complete? (e.g., 5 minute oral presentation, 10 page paper, 50 page paper)
  
• How much information do you need?
  
• Is currency important?
  
• What types of publications do you want to read? (newspaper articles, books, journal articles, diaries, trade publications, etc.)
  
• What formats do you need? (visual, audio, printed, electronic)
  
• Is point of view an issue? Do you need opinions?
  
• How much time do you have?
  

How to Narrow Your Topic

Example: You are thinking of writing a paper on "classroom management." This topic could develop in many different ways.

Hint: Ask Yourself Questions About Your Topic:

• What aspects of your topic interest you: historical, sociological, psychological, etc.?
  
• What time period do you want to cover?
  
• On what geographic region do you want to focus?
  
• What kind of information do you need?

  o a brief summary or a lengthy explanation?
  o periodical articles, books, essays, encyclopedia articles?
  o statistics?
  

Sample Topic Narrowing Chart:

Narrowed Topic Sentence: How have classroom management techniques in urban high school classrooms changed over the last 50 years?

How to Broaden Your Topic

Example: I'm thinking of doing a paper on "Are teachers of bilingual classrooms in Oregon adequately prepared for teaching ESL and bilingual students?"

This topic as stated is seeking to answer a question for which there may be no answer yet -- more scientific and long-term research may need to be done. How can this be turned into a more manageable topic?

Hint 1: Look for parallels and opportunities for broader associations:

· Could you examine other types of class environments, in addition to bilingual classrooms?
· Could you think broadly about bilingual education concerns and issues -- what might these be?
· Who are the key players in this controversy? Parents? Teachers? Administrators?
· What other issues are involved in this topic?

Hint 2: Brainstorm! (and ask a reference librarian!)

Sample Topic Broadening Chart:

Broadened Topic Sentence: What types of training/educational opportunities are provided to teachers of bilingual classrooms in Oregon?