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Many assignments often start with broad topics.
When you look for related information, you will uncover an overwhelming amount of published information and have difficulty writing your paper.
It is much better to narrow your topic to something more manageable and focused.
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Let's say you are writing on hate crimes.
To narrow, combine the subject with another idea:
Broad Topic
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WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY, and WHEN
Combine with or limit by
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Examples
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hate crimes
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WHAT: viewpoint, aspect
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legal aspects
social implications
psychological impact
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WHO: person, group, ethnicity
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crimes against Muslims
crimes by neo-Nazis
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WHEN: time period
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during the 80's
last 6 months
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WHERE: place or region
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Germany
California
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WHY: implications, impact
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why people hate
why hate crimes are increasing
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Research Questions
Sentencing should be harsher for crimes based on sexual orientation.
Since 9/11, are Muslims and Arab-Americans targets for hate crimes?
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Last modified: 10/6/2010 9:25 AM by M. Potter
