Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Topic is too broad:
Sometimes a topic can have tons of information. So choosing something like ‘gangs’ would be too broad, as it encompasses hundreds of known entities around the world. To combat this, ask yourself what is it you want to know about this topic?
Here is an example:
You have an interest in learning about organized crime, so you want that as your topic. So ask yourself what you want to know more about? Do you want to know more about a specific group? A region? How this group operates in a specific way? Putting it all together you could transform ‘gangs’ into ‘How MS-13 operates in the United States prison system.
Not understanding the topic:
One of the most common pitfalls in regards to topic choice centers on incorrect wording. In this example a student wants to write about the legalization of marijuana:
The legalization of marijuana is a hot button topic, and much has been written about it, however the wording is incorrect. Most who are new to this topic should be focusing on the decriminalization not legalization of marijuana. The two terms are tangentially related, but mean entirely different things. The best way to combat this would be to look up the topic and see what wording other sources are using. If you are not finding much information in regards to the specific terms, try other related terms from those other sources you discovered.
Topic is too narrow:
One the opposite end of the spectrum, sometimes a topic can be too narrow. Even with the internet and the ease of obtaining information, this does not automatically mean that every topic in existence has been covered extensively.
Relating back to the topic of organized crime, perhaps you want to focus on the Mungiki of Kenya. Even with a thorough search, you may not be able to find much on them outside of a few news references or nonacademic resources. The best way to combat this would be to choose a related topic on a slightly broader scale. A good example would be ‘child soldiers of Africa.’ In this example you could still talk about the Mungiki, but in relation to the broader topic.
Topic requires specialized knowledge
Sometimes while researching a topic, especially in medicine and science, you will find that certain resources may be too difficult to decipher. Often times said articles have overwhelming amounts of statistical or scientific data that outweigh the scope of your topic. This can leave you confused or otherwise frustrated at the topic. Consider the following while you are looking at these resources:
If you answered NO to any of these questions, then your topic is too narrow and you should take the proper steps to change it, as outlined above.
