Refine your topic

Once you have an idea for a topic, you need to make sure the scope of the topic is appropriate for the kind of research assignment you have. For the assignments in LBR 105, you will be locating a limited amount of information from 3 books, 3 articles, and 3 web sites.

If your topic is too broad, you will be overwhelmed with information. For example, gun control is a topic that you could write a book about. Thousands of articles are available on that topic. For the LBR 105 assignments, that is just too much information! A topic on one aspect of gun control – such as safety locks – would be more appropriate.

To get ideas for how to focus your topic, take a look in reference sources, such as general encyclopedias or subject specific encyclopedias. Listed below are some online encyclopedias (others are available on the NOVA Libraries website: select Articles, then Encyclopedias & Dictionaries”). If you don’t find one below that will help you focus your topic, ask your instructor to suggest other sources – there are MANY print encyclopedias available in each NOVA library.

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online (not all content is available for free)
Facts on File World Almanac Encyclopedia
Oxford Reference Online - Encyclopedias are available in the following subject areas:

Art & Architecture, Biological Sciences, Classics, Computing, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Economics & Business, Food & Drink, History, Law, Literature, Medicine, Military History, Mythology & Folklore, Performing Arts, Physical Sciences & Mathematics, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Philosophy, Science

Gale Virtual Reference Library - Encyclopedias are available in the following subject areas:

Arts, Business, Environment, History, Law, Literature, Medicine, Multicultural Studies, Nation and World, Religion, Science, Social Science

On the other hand, a topic that is too specific will make it very difficult to find enough sources of information. For example, a topic such as the use of safety locks on guns in Virginia in the 1970s is much too specific. To broaden the topic, think of ways to make the topic more inclusive – for example, include additional places, time periods, or groups.

As you do your research for this, or for other, research projects, you may find that you will continue to refine your topic throughout the research process, depending upon the information you find. You may need to broaden or narrow your topic even more, or you may need to vary the focus a little. Flexibility is a normal part of the research process.