Will this topic work?
Purpose of this worksheet: to help you determine whether or not a
topic will work for your assignment.
How to use this form:
A. Go to Save as, give the file a new name, and save in your
directory.
B. Type inside the boxes below. They will expand to fit your
typing.
C. Remember to save often.
Step 1. In the box below, list a topic you think might work for your
paper and that you are interested in.
topic ideas
Topic idea:
Step 2. In the boxes below, write 2 good questions about this topic
that you’d like to answer.
Question 1:
Question 2:
Step 3. Go to FirstSearch or another source for articles written in
professional journals. In the boxes below, list the author and title of 2
articles regarding each of your questions.
FirstSearch
Question 1
First article:
Second article:
Question 2
First article:
Second article:
ALERT: If you were not able to find articles addressing your
questions, choose different questions, or another topic, and start over.
Step 4. Go to the district’s online subscription databases and find out
whether or not articles addressing your topic can be found. (This
should be in addition to FirstSearch.) In the boxes below, list at least
2 databases that have those articles.
214 Resources
Database name
Database name
Question 1
Question 2
ALERT: If you were not able to find at least one additional database
addressing your questions, choose different questions, or another
topic, and start over.
Step 5. Check the school library catalog to find books that address
each of your questions. Take a look at the books to make sure they
actually do address your questions. In the boxes below, list the call
numbers and titles of the books.
Catalog
(limit to WHS)
Call number
Title
Question 1
Question 2
If you did not find books in the school library, check the catalog for
books in other school libraries in the district and/or local public
libraries. In the boxes below, list the call numbers and titles of the
books.
Catalog
Local libraries
Call number
Title
Question 1
Question 2
ALERT: If you were not able to find books addressing your questions,
check with your teacher to determine whether or not your assignment
can be completed without using any books. If not, choose different
questions, or another topic, and start over.
GOOD NEWS ! !
Now that you know you can find information addressing your questions
in professional journal articles, additional online databases, and books,
you know you are ready to start.
Next step: Read one or two good articles and determine which of
your questions you will focus on.
Are you wondering why the location of Internet sites was not in the list
of steps? We all know it’s possible to find sites regarding almost any
topic on the Internet, but the information may or may not be
authoritative.
You will probably be using Internet sites to find up-to-date statistics,
charts, and/or pictures later on during the research process.