Choosing Your Topic

Picking a topic is the most important decision you will make about your project. You may be assigned a topic, or allowed to choose your own. In either case, use the tips below to help define your project and decide your focus.

Details! Consult with your Instructor

• What do you have to do? Know your instructor's expectations. Don't assume anything. Understand the goals of the assignment.
• How is it to be presented? Is it a five-minute persuasive speech or a twenty-page paper? This will be a consideration in the number of resources you need. Define the size and scope of the project.
• When is the assignment due? How long a period of time do you have to complete this project? The sooner you begin finding resources, the better. If the assignment is due in two weeks, you need to find information locally. If you have the entire semester, you may be able to ask for Interlibrary Loans.

Choose something that interests you

Do you have a prior knowledge base in this field or is it completely new to you? Browse current issues of periodicals in your subject area. Check for titles such as "Trends in..., Current issues in..., Annual review of..." Series such as "Taking Sides" are also useful. Look through entries in HOMER, the UConn Libraries online catalog, to locate books which might include useful suggestions. Reference works such as manuals and handbooks are helpful. Specialized encyclopedias that cover your subject area are also useful. Check with a Reference Librarian in the Library for suggestions. If you are doing a complex project, you may wish to schedule a consultation with a Liaison Librarian in your subject field.

Express your topic as a statement. This is your 'thesis statement'.

• If you wish to look at the influence that Jazz has had on rock music, you might state, "The essential elements of rock music are directly related to the jazz compositions of the early twentieth century."
• Check with your Instructor to see if your 'thesis statement' fulfills the requirements of the assignment.
• For some great tips on how to create a good thesis statement, see Constructing Thesis Statements from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Writing Center.

Identify and test the main concepts or keywords.

• In the example above, you are looking for history and criticism of American popular music and their relation to each other.
• Generate a list of key search terms for each concept. Use alternate terms: blues, popular music, rock and roll, names of significant musicians.
• Check reference sources such as encyclopedias and handbook to define your terms. Language can vary from one subject to another: "staff" in Music is not the same as "staff" in Education.
• Use your terms to search HOMER, the Online Catalog, and in periodical indexes such as Reader's Guide or Infotrac.
• How much information do you need? If you are finding too much information, narrow your topic. Too little information may indicate a need to be broader. Ask your instructor for advice.

Decide what subject words to use

• A topic is not necessarily a "subject." Many databases and disciplines have their own 'controlled vocabulary' which may be called subjects headings, descriptors, identifiers, or other terms. Look for an online thesaurus which lists the controlled vocabulary for that product. Often, there is a paper equivalent.
• Each database covers a particular subject and has its own limitations. InfoTrac Expanded Academic Index is a cross-discipline database of journals, but ERIC specifically covers education.
• A subject search is usually more focused than keyword, and takes advantage of the knowledge and expertise of the indexers compiling the product. Start with a keyword search, then try using the subjects assigned to the records you retrieve to narrow your focus.