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Table of Contents

The Research Process

Defining Research Needs

Developing a Research Strategy
Define Your Topic and Pose a Research Question
Brainstorm Search Terms
Build a Keyword Search

Conducting the Search

Evaluating Resources

Using Resources

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Developing a Research Strategy


Define Your Topic and Pose a Research Question - The Topic

Keeping in mind that a topic needs to be reasonably narrow and cleary defined, let's look at how a subject area can be subdivided into a manageable topic.

Subdivide a broad subject like Shakespeare's plays into a manageable topic by:

Choosing a specific time span or era Modernized Versions of Shakespearean Plays Performed during the 1960's
Focusing on a specific location Italian Culture in Shakespeare's Plays
Considering the perspective of a specific discipline or subject area The Economic Portrayal of the Wealthy in Shakespeare's Plays
Identifying a specific related problem, solution, or question Who Was Shakespeare? The Authorship Question
Targeting a specific genre or subdivision Political Impacts of Shakespeare's History Plays

You may also consider:

A point you can argue for or against Suicide as a Solution for Teen Angst
An idea you can compare or contrast Juliet's Naivete as Depicted in Zeffirelli's and Luhrmann's Film Versions
A cause and effect relationship you can explain Violence Begets Violence: The Outcome of Family Rivalries
A main point that you can divide into sub-points The Complicity of the Prince of Verona: Multiple Aspects of Poor Leadership
A question you can answer Alternatives to Violence: What Choices did Romeo Have?

 

 
What is your broad subject?

List three possible topics for your assignment. (If a topic has been provided/selected for you, type it here.)