Library Resources & Services: Choose a Topic: Selecting a Broad Topic

Identifying a Broad Topic

To identify a broad topic to research, try these strategies to help generate ideas:

Browser your textbook or class readings.
Think about something interesting you have read or seen online or on television.
Pick a topic relevant to your life.
- Considering a career in medicine? Hoping to start your own business? Thinking of studying abroad next year? Choose a topic that allows you to learn about something you can apply to your daily life.
Look through Subject Guides - they cover a wide variety of topics and one might spark your interest.

Library databases can be used to help generate ideas:

Gale In Context: Global Issues This link opens in a new window
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Collection of newspaper, magazine and scholarly/peer-reviewed articles, primary sources, images and videos, and encyclopedia entries for global issues, topics and current events. Brings together a variety of sources for analysis of social, political, military, economic, environmental, health, and cultural issues. Coverage: varies.
Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints This link opens in a new window
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Collection of scholarly/peer reviewed, magazine and newspaper articles on social issues. Includes media, maps, websites and statistics.
Coverage: varies.