TOPIC
DEVELOPMENT
LIBRARY 101
Rio Hondo College
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A. Enright
Agenda
 Topic development
 Resources for topics
 Brainstorming for topics
 Complete Topic Worksheet
Topic Construction
 Know the requirements of the assignment!
 See The Research Paper: Ten Steps to Researching it
Right (page 1)
 Determine the scope and depth of your topic
 See Research Survival Guide from CSULA:
http://www.calstatela.edu/library/tutorial/
 What type and how much information is available?
 Too much information to cover – Topic is too broad
 Not enough for a paper or discussion – Topic is too
narrow
Too Broad:
Avoid General Topics
 Abortion
 Gambling
 Substance Abuse
 Steroid
Use in Sports
Too Narrow: Avoid Extremely
Specific Topics

Steroid Use of Seniors at Whittier High
Schools in 2008-2009

Psychological Study of Rio Hondo Student
Gamblers at the Commerce Casino

Pro-life and Pro-Choice protests at Rio Hondo
College
Resources for Topics
 General Encyclopedias:


World Book in Reference Room
Britannica Online
 Reference Books:

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10,000 Ideas for Term Papers….
REF LB1047.3.L35 1991
Sourcebook for English Papers…
REF LB2369.M.463 1987
 Daily Newspapers (print or online)
Resources for Topics (cont)
 Circulating Books


1,000 Ideas for Term Papers in Sociology
HM45.A7
1,000 Ideas for Term Papers in Social Science
H62.F35
Resources for Topics (cont)
 Web Sites:



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Rio Hondo College Library - Research Paper
Topics:
http://library.riohondo.edu/research_help/Rese
arch_Topics/index.htm
Librarians Index to the Internet: lii.org
Internet Public Library: IPL.org (see
Pathfinders)
Idea Generator from Old Dominion University
http://www.lib.odu.edu/libassist/idea/index.php
Activity:
Brainstorming for a Topic
 Browse the newspapers – don’t read the articles, scan


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the headlines and the first two or three paragraphs.
Browse the books listed in this presentation.
Use the online sources and Web sites suggested in this
presentation.
Take notes of possible topics as they develop at this
point the topic may be a “general” topic; one or two
words or short phrase.
Select at least 5 possible general topics.
Take the CSULA Tutorial as a guest (Introduction and
chapter 1) http://www.calstatela.edu/library/tutorial/
Activity:
Brainstorming for a Topic (cont)
 Turn your work sheets in at the end of class.
 Topic refinement begin at this point work with
your instructor or make an appointment for a
research consultation with a librarian x3484
Ask for Adele or another librarian