Module 1: Defining the Information Need

Narrowing or Broadening a Topic

Need to narrow your topic? Are you finding too much information on your topic or don't know where to start?

• Limit the topic by geography
• Limit by a particular event or time period
• Focus on a particular person or group of people
• Limit to one aspect of the topic (economic, historical, political, psychological, sociological, etc.)

Is your topic too narrow? Are you having difficulty finding enough information?

• Explore related topics or issues
• Expand the time period covered
• Expand the people, social group, or population considered
• Expand the geographic region discussed
• Compare or contrast one topic, issue, social group, or geographic region with another

The following 2 min. 53 sec. video will show you more about choosing a topic. A text script is available.

Once you develop your topic, you can start to think about the kinds of resources you will need.