Research Guides: Stetter : Choosing & Narrowing Your Topic

Library Databases

Some library databases can be used to help you find and choose a topic. These databases will often present articles, videos and other information all in one place under one subject. Rather than knowing a topic and then searching for information about it, these databases present the topics to you and then give you all the information about that topic.

Gale Topic Finder

Websites

Choosing a Topic
Provides detailed information about how to write research papers including discussing research papers as a genre, choosing topics, and finding sources.
Idea Generator
Select a broad category to browse through a variety of keywords and phrases; then explore the ideas and devise a more specific topic.
Times Topics
News, reference and archival information, photos, graphics, audio and video files published on a variety of topics.

Topical Topics for Research
Sample list from EBSCO organized by subject area to help you brainstorm research topic ideas.

Four Steps to Narrow Your Research Topic

Books in the Library Collection

99 Jumpstarts to Research by Peggy Whitley; Catherine Olson; Susan Williams Goodwin
Publication Date: 2001
Quick-start guide pinpoints the best resources on hot research topics, ranging from abortion to drug use, accessed through 99 suggested "starting-point" titles.
99 Jumpstarts to Research: Topic Guides for Finding Information on Current Issues, 2nd ed. by Peggy J. Whitley; Susan Williams Goodwin; Catherine C. Olson
Call Number: ZA3050 .W47 2010
Publication Date: 2010
Provides research assistance for 99 current and provocative issues students can use to write a brief argumentative paper.