5 Steps to Research!: Step 2: Develop a Topic

"Creating a Successful Research Project"

Some Reference Sources for Background Information

Use Library print and online encyclopedias. AND there are special encyclopedias on topics--ask your librarian!

Some free online references:

TIps & Examples for Writing Thesis Statements

Step 2  Develop a Topic Overview

In this module you will learn how to

1. Choose a research topic
2. Find keywords
3. Find background information
4. Narrow your topic
5. Develop your search strategy (what, exactly, you will type in when you search for sources on your topic)
6. Write a thesis statement

⇒ Use these Graphic Organizers (TeacherVision) or these Graphic Organizers (Education Place) to organize your research or download this Concept Map

Narrow Your Topic & Develop a Research Question

Choosing a sub-topic. Example:

Animal Testing
	reasons	beauty & household industry medicine
	opposition	history & effectiveness of movements one organization
	alternatives	lower organisms technology
	ethics	pro/con arguments

It is helpful to write out your topic as a sentence or a question. Let's say the question that most interests you is:

What are alternatives to animal testing that can lessen the need for using animals in research?

Brainstorm Search Terms Tutorial

No matter where you're searching, you will need to pick out the most important keywords. These are generally nouns. Watch the tutorials for a good overview.

Develop Your Search Strategy

How to Search Online

So, after you've brainstormed related terms (synonyms) for your most important keyword terms use them to craft a research question:

What are the alternatives to animal testing?

• Now you craft search statements.  NEVER search using a complete sentence when searching online
• A "search statement" is what you will type in a search box
• Use quotation marks to keep words together
• Use the connector word AND to combine terms in the results and OR to connect synonyms--notice other words used to describe the same thing as you read. For example:

"animal testing" AND alternatives OR options

Copy and paste this into a Google search or other database search!

Limit your results to a domain type:  

• .edu (educational sites like universities)
• .org (organizations)

Now here are 2 Search Strategies that will give different results:

"animal testing" AND alternatives OR options site:.edu

Copy and paste this into a Google search or other database search

"animal testing" AND alternatives OR options site:.org

Copy and paste this into a Google search or other database search

NOTICE the difference in the types of returns you get? Both types can be useful depending on your topic