HOWLER learning Unit from Madison Area Technical College Libraries Slide 1 - Title: Choosing and Refining Your Topic (Graphic: Logo for HOWLER) Slide 2 - closed captions To turn on the closed captions for this tutorial, click the "CC" button on the playback control. (Graphic: Arrow point to playback bar) Slide 3 - Virginia Introduction Hello, I'm Virginia, a librarian with Madison College Libraries, where we help you find, access, and evaluate the information you need for your assignments. (Graphic: Madison College Libraries logo and photo of librarian Virginia) Slide 4 - Introduction This section should take about 5 minutes to complete. If you need to pause or rewind at any point, use the navigation bar at the bottom of the page. (Graphic: Madison College Libraries logo) Slide 5 - Choosing a topic Choosing a topic. (Graphics: Stick figures wondering and coming up with an idea) Slide 6 - First step in writing paper The first step in writing a research paper is to select a topic. (Graphic: Student with writer's block) If you're having trouble deciding what to write about, there are a number of things you can do to make the task easier. (Graphic: Frustrated student at a computer) Slide 7 - Tips for choosing topic Read your assignment over carefully. (Graphic: Assignment being completed) Be sure you understand what your instructor wants. If in doubt, ask for clarification. (Graphic: Students getting help from tutor) Select a topic that really interests you. You’ll do a better job, if you write about something that’s important to you. (Graphic: Student cheerfully making presentation) Slide 8 - Tips continued Discuss possible ideas with your instructor. Browse the library shelves for current journals, books, and other materials in your general area of interest. Don’t overlook things you’ve been reading and discussions you’ve been having in class. These can be good sources of ideas. Discuss possible ideas with your instructor. (Graphic: Stick figures talking on a sofa) Slide 10 - Refining your topic (Graphic: Stick figure sawing wood) Slide 11 - Too broad Refining your topic is an ongoing process. If your search results in too much information, it may be that your topic is too broad. Slide 12 - Too narrow On the other hand, if your topic is Arctic wolf adoption, you may not be able to find enough information to write your paper. (Graphics: Search icon and photo of wolf pup) Slide 13 - Striking a balance Ideally, you want your topic statement to be broad enough to provide you with adequate material for your research, but, at the same time, focused enough and clear enough that it is manageable within the scope of a paper. (Graphics: Broad landscape shot of mountains, stick figure balancing on a tight rope, and photo of detailed lab work) Slide 14 - Review question #1 Which of the following topic statements do you think would be the best to work with in a paper? A. The reintroduction of wolves in the national parks will help restore a healthy balance in nature. B. The wolf is a noble beast. C. The presence of wolves in an area has an adverse affect on dairy cows’ milk production because of increased stress levels to the cows and their owners Slide 15 - Feedback Slide - Topic Statement The first topic statement includes all of the important elements of this topic and it's neither too broad nor too narrow a topic. (Graphic: Lone wolf howling in the foothills of a mountain range) Slide 16 - Feedback 2 - Topic Statement A lengthy book could be written about 'Wolves as Noble Beasts', whereas the last topic might be far too specific for you to locate a variety of information sources. (Graphics: Woodcut of a man battling a wolf in the wild; Photo of a cow in a pasture). Slide 17 - Broaden/refine topic Slide 18 - Broaden/refine tip #1 and #2 Find an overview of your topic (in an encyclopedia, text book or reliable web resource) and select the aspects of the topic that interest you. As you read about your topic, make a list of key words and phrases that might be useful search terms when you start to look for more information. (Graphics: Photo of a set of encyclopedias, screen shot of encyclopedia article with terms highlighted, and a stick figure making a list) Slide 19 - Broaden/refine tip #3 Once you've identified possible terms to describe your topic, do a search in one of the library databases. Scan the list of citations your search produces and identify specific issues you might want to focus on. (Graphics: Screen shot of library database search; Poster from the Works Progress Administration of industrial and farm labor cooperation; Photo of Margaret Bourke White at work photographing life during the Great Depression). Slide 20 - Broaden/refine tip #4 You can also narrow your topic by searching for the subject in a general database such as Opposing Viewpoints, clicking on Subdivisions, and browsing through the results. (Graphic: Database subject terms list) Slide 21 - Subdivisions Here is a list of subdivisions this database offers on your topic. (Graphic: Screen shot of subtopics for a topic) Slide 22 - Broaden/refine tip #5 It's also a good idea to explore other links, such as Related subjects and Cross references. (Graphic: Related subjects and cross referece listings from a database) Slide 23 - Other terms to help tailor search ...can be useful in helping you to broaden or refine your search. You can explore similar options in the library catalog or any of the other databases. Links to... related terms narrower terms broader terms subdivisions cross references ...can be useful in helping you to broaden or refine your search. (Graphics: Broader, Narrower and Related terms lists for Neoplasms) Slide 24 - Review question #2 Using the topic statement.... The reintroduction of wolves in the national parks will help restore the natural balance that humans have interrupted ....select the best combination of keywords to help you find relevant information. A. wolves, balance, interrupted B. reintroduction, parks, balance C. reintroduction, wolves parks Slide 25 - Review question #3 Matching. Match the broader term in the left-hand column / Column 1 with the appropriate narrower term from the right-hand column / Column 2. Column 1 Women in sports Laws American civil war Alternative energy sources Racism NASA Column 2 Battle of Gettysburg Wind power Civil rights movement Apollo 13 Supreme Court WNBA Slide 26 - results Slide 27 - Help We can help you in person, by phone, text or other methods listed on the Reference and Research Help page. (Graphics: Librarians helping in person, on the phone and contact methods on our homepage) Slide 28 - Friendly librarians When you have questions, check with the information experts at Madison College Libraries. We're here to help. (Graphics: Photos of librarians) Slide 29 - End Thank you for completing this Howler learning unit. Wednesday, August 17, 2011 Madison Area Technical College Libraries