Once you've picked a topic idea that interests you, the next step is to develop it into a research question or thesis that is manageable (not too broad) and viable (not too narrow or unanswerable/unprovable).
| What if My Topic is Too Broad? |
You will find too much information to read You will have too many issues to cover Your paper may lack focus and depth |
Narrow your topic by finding a specific aspect Limit by Population, Time Frame, or Geography Apply Who, What, Where, Why, & How |
| What if My Topic is Too Narrow? |
You will not find enough information Your paper may not reach its required length |
Remove any limiters - Population, Time, Geography |
Some topics are much too broad for a research paper. If, for example, you wanted to write a paper on Domestic Violence, you would have to narrow your topic. Following are some ways that you could narrow this topic:
| Who | Who are the victims? Who are the offenders? Who reports domestic violence? |
| What | What causes domestic violence? What can be done to stop it? |
| Where | Where are the highest number of cases reported? Where can victims go for help? |
| Why | Why do offenders recidivate? Why do victims refuse to press charges? |
| How | How can the offender be treated? How do the courts deal with domestic violence? |
| Population | Victims are children; Victims are elderly; Victims are female; Offenders are female |
| Time | Domestic violence in the nineteenth century; Domestic violence in the last decade |
| Geography | Domestic violence in Philadelphia; Domestic violence in China |
| Viewpoint | Social, legal, medical, ethical, biological or psychological aspects of violence |
