1: How to Choose a Topic

State your topic as a question. For example, if you are interested in finding out about the use of alcoholic beverages by college students, you might ask the question, "What effect does use of alcoholic beverages have on the health of college students?" Identify the main concepts or keywords in your question.

Current Issues

To access Oakton Library databases from an off-campus computer, click on the database name and then use your Oakton username and password to login.
Not sure what your Oakton username and password are? Find it here. Questions? Call (847) 635-1644

The following scholarly websites discuss current issues:

• CQ Researcher
  Unbiased reports on current issues may be searched by topic and date. Pros and cons are provided.
• Opposing Viewpoints and Points of View
  Provides viewpoint articles, topic overviews, full-text magazine, academic journal, and newspaper articles, primary source documents, statistics, images and podcasts, and links to Websites.
• Government Information
  Links to local, state and federal government sites are found here.

Web sites

The following websites are great to browse through to find a topic.
They also can help a person find more information on a selected topic.

• Hot Research Paper Topics
  Selected web sites chosen by librarians at St. Ambrose University.
• Internet Resources
  Monthly webliographies on a variety of subjects compiled and evaluated by librarians and published in College & Research Libraries News.
• ipl2
  Searchable subject directory with a wide variety of internet resources created and maintained by librarians and library science students.
• Issues and Causes
  Selection of topics appropriate for research papers and speeches from the Yahoo directory.
• World Wide Web Virtual Library
  Oldest catalog of the web started by Tim Berners-Lee, the creator/inventor of html and the web.

Oakton Library Books on Selecting a Topic

The following books have information on how to pick a topic and refine it:

• The Curious Researcher: A Guide to Writing Research Papers
  Call Number: (DP) LB2369 .B246 2009; (RHC)  RHC. LB2369 .B246 2009
• Research Paper Handbook: Your Complete Guide
  Call Number: (DP) LB2369 .L39 2005; (RHC) RHC LB2369 .L39 2005
• Writing the Research Paper: A Handbook
  Call Number: (DP) LB2369 .W55 2008; (RHC) RHCREF. LB2369 .W55 2008

Tip

Search for information about the main concepts or keywords of your topic in the I-Share book catalog, or in online periodical indexes .

Note

If you are finding too much information or too many sources when you search electronically, narrow your topic by using "and": beer and health and college students, for example.
Finding too little information may indicate that you need to broaden your topic.
Look for information on students rather than college students. Increase your hits by using the word "or": beverages or wind or beer or liquor.