![[Choose & Define Your Topic]](images/choose.gif)
This Module will discuss:
Module 1. Part 1: Choosing a Topic
Choosing a topic is often the most difficult part of doing scientific research.
Not only must you choose a topic that fits within the scope of your assignment, but also one that is easily
researched in our library and is of interest to you.
If your topic is too general, it will be difficult to focus your research and writing. If your topic is too
narrow, it will be difficult to find enough information for your presentation.
Secondary sources are excellent places to find background information, because they are created using
information gleaned from many primary resources (original reports of research), such as books and journal
articles.
Scientific encyclopedias, reviews, and textbooks contain lists of references or further reading suggestions that
should be helpful in your research.
Reference books are also useful for beginning research because, they include definitions, statistics,
and illustrations that can help in defining your topic and developing your arguments. (See Reference Sources for
Biology for suggested resources)
Other sources for background material include newspapers, popular magazines, and the World Wide Web (all of
which will be discussed later).
The First Step!
Since successful library research can be described in steps, let's call the first step Defining Your
Topic. The key is to put a lot of thought into your topic. Ask yourself these questions:
Once you have the answers, you can start framing your topic and creating a search statement.
Background Information
Background information is useful when you don't know a lot about your topic, you need to establish a history for
a paper or project, or you need to find additional terms or keywords for a literature search.
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