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3.  Refining a Topic
   
Now that you have selected a topic, formulated your central question, and found some background information, you might need to refine your search topic into a more focused topic.  If your topic is too focused or detailed, you might have a hard time finding enough sources.  In  this case, you will need to broaden you search.
   
Narrowing a Topic - when the topic covers TOO much material consider the following:
  • Is there a specific time period you can narrow it too?
  • Is there a geographic region or country you can focus on?
  • Is there a particular aspect of this topic that interests you?

Use AND and NOT to narrow the search
Broadening a Topic - when there is NOT enough available resources to cover the topic consider the following:
  • Is there an alternative focus you can explore?
  • Is there an alternative geographic area you can focus on?
  • Is there an alternative person or group:
  • Is there and alternative event or aspect?

Use OR to broaden the search
 

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