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When you select a topic, the first inclination is to pick something interesting to you personally. You need to understand whether your topic matches both the instructor's guidelines and the objectives of the course. In considering a topic, keep in mind the subject may be so new that there is little or no information available; i.e. you heard it on a television or radio show, it is new or cutting-edge, and the library may have nothing on it yet. There may be information available, but some digging will be required. Consider doing some background reading on the topic before making a final selection…….you may want to change your topic.
Background reading has many purposes:
- It helps you find out what is available on your subject and helps you get updated on a topic with which you're already familiar. Should your topic be more specific? More general? What does the library have that is readily available?
- You can get an overview of the subject, without going into much detail. Examine information from the last 3-5 years, particularly if your topic is in medicine, business, or law, because these fields continually change.
- Look at the focus of various authors….what approach did they take to your topic? Select one of their methods, or choose your own path.
- What subject areas and search terms are used? Are these terms specialized? Are you aware of any special indexes, books, encyclopedias published in that field? Jargon is one example of how a topic may be indexed different from what you're expecting.
- Search where previous authors or researchers have searched……some sources are available, others out of print or archived. Foreign language documents? Government sources? Different authors use different resources.
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