Sometimes narrowing to a specific topic does not come naturally and can be a difficult task. Here are some techniques available to make this process simpler.
Some additional sites with help on choosing and narrowing topics are listed below.
If you don't know on what topic you want to write a paper, start by looking in sources with broad spreads of relevant information.
Part of picking a topic will involve conducting literature searches. As you search for your topic(s) start with searches as BROAD as possible, while remaining relevant to your topic. Starting broad will give a breadth of coverage that allows you easy options for narrowing your topic. If you start with a narrow topic it is much harder to broaden your topic later to explore more options.
Describe your topic in a sentence.
How did carnivorous plants evolve digestive enzymes?
What are your major concepts? Identify the main elements of your topic.
Concept 1 | Evolution |
Concept 2 | Carnivorous plants |
Concept 3 | Digestive enzymes |
Think of related terms for your concepts. Use both common words and scientific terms.
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Synonyms |
Synonyms |
Synonyms |
Synonyms |
Concept 1 |
Evolution |
Convergent evolution |
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|
Concept 2 |
Carnivorous plants |
Cephalotus follicularis (Australian pitcher plant) |
Nepenthes alata (Asian pitcher plant) |
Sarracenia purpurea (American pitcher plant) |
Drosera adelae (Sundew) |
Concept 3 |
Digestive enzymes |
Chitanase |
Purple acid phosphatase |
RNase T2 |
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Add Boolean Operators (AND & OR) to structure the search in a database search interface.
Synonyms | Synonyms | Synonyms | Synonyms | ||
Concept 1 | Evolution | OR Convergent evolution | |||
AND | |||||
Concept 2 | Carnivorous plants | OR Cephalotus follicularis OR Australian pitcher plant | OR Nepenthes alata OR Asian pitcher plant | OR Sarracenia purpurea OR American pitcher plant | OR Drosera adelae OR Sundew |
AND | |||||
Concept 3 | Digestive enzymes | OR Citanase | OR Purple acid phosphatase | OR RNase T2 |
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