Developing Your Topic   Tags: developing topics, mind mapping, picking search terms  

Once your topic has been assigned or selected:

• Think of important key words or ideas (tagging)
  Try mind mapping
• Identify what you want to do
  Persuade, review literature, write an essay
  What has the instructor assigned?
• What type of information do you need?
  Statistics, background information, studies, peer-reviewd articles?
• Analyze your topic so far
  Is it too broad or narrow? Anticipate questions and arguments
• Summarize your topic so far
  This is a good time to check in with your instructor and make sure you are on the right track
• Write out your approach to the topic keeping an open mind
  Consider that the information you find during research  may cause you to rethink things
  Stay objective
• Organize your notes and start writing