| 1. |
What do you already know
about [insert your topic here]? What don’t you know? |
Try
brainstorming on a piece of paper—write down everything you can
think of about your topic as well as particular ideas you would like
to find out about it. Take several minutes to write, and then read what
you have written to see if an idea is worth pursuing.
NOTE: If the
student has no idea what her topic is, see “The
Clueless Student.”
|
| 2. |
What
aspect(s) of your topic interest(s) you?
|
Again, try brainstorming on
paper. Think of approaches such as historical, sociological,
psychological, theological, etc. For example, the topic might be
Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses. You could narrow the topic to a
sociological approach: differences and similarities between the
American and Mexican cultures as portrayed in the novel.
|
| 3. |
Was
this topic covered in class?
|
If so, recall questions that were asked
in class and/or interesting parts of the discussion or lecture.
|
| 4. |
What time period do you want
to cover (e.g., the ‘90s, the Renaissance)? |
For example, the topic
might be Southern American authors. You could narrow the topic to a particular
time period, such as the late twentieth century: William Faulkner's
influence on Cormac McCarthy.
|
| 5. |
On
what geographical location do you want to focus (e.g., Buncombe
County, the Middle East)?
|
For example, the topic might be literature.
You could narrow the topic to a particular location, such as the
Southwest:
the role of Cormac McCarthy in the literature of the American
Southwest.
|
| 6. |
What specific group of
people relates to or has a role in the topic (e.g., single mothers,
senior citizens)? |
For example, your topic might be the novels of
Cormac McCarthy. You
could narrow the topic to a particular group, such as women: the
portrayal of women in the novels of Cormac McCarthy.
|
