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Library Research

Use this guide to learn how to define a topic, develop a research strategy, find books and articles and cite your sources.

Steps

  1. Start with a topic
  2. Narrow and focus your topic
  3. Formulate a question you want to ask about your topic
  4. Narrow the question, if possible

 

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Using the 5Ws to Define a Topic Example

Consider the broad topic of media violence. You can narrow this topic by considering the 5Ws.

Who/Person? - children

What/Event? - video games

When/Time? - last 5 years

Where/Place? - United States

Why?

Using the above 5Ws, you could formulate the research question, "Are American children who play video games more likely to be violent and if so why?"
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