Suggestions for finding a topic

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlireland/6713554905/

The Long Room, Trinity College, Dublin, circa 1885. Source: National Library of Ireland. Flickr Commons.

In order to find a research topic, follow these steps:

1. Read the assigment carefully, ideally more than once. Ask the professor if you need clarification or want to discuss ideas for topics.

2. Go through the relevant readings and blogs from the course syllabus.

3. Browse the physical books at the Fine Arts Library, in the TR section and beyond. Talk to a librarian.

4. Think about what interests you, and research if there is enough primary and secondary material to substantiate the paper.

It may be helpful to consult the following pages:

    Identifying a topic

    Dorothea Lange, Migrant Mother, 1936 from the Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8b29516/

    Dorothea Lange, Migrant Mother, 1936. From the Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8b29516

    State your topic idea as a question. For example, if you are interested in finding out about photography during the Farm Security Administration, you might pose the question, "How did the distinctions between art and documentary photography change during the Farm Security Administration in the United States?"

    Identify the main concepts or keywords in your question. These are potential search terms. In this case, a few could be "documentary photography," and "Farm Security Administration." One can also search photographers by name from this era, including Dorothea Lange and Ben Shahn.

    Finding Background Information

    Once you have identified the main topic and keywords for your research, find one or more sources of background information to read. These sources will help you understand the broader context of your research and tell you in general terms what is known about your topic. They will give you an idea of how much and what kind of information is available on a given topic.

    Encyclopedias and dictionaries: You can find subject-specific encyclopedias and dictionaries by using the CU Library Catalog or by asking a reference librarian. You may wish to also consult Reference Universe Online or some of the Dictionaries and Encyclopedias available via Find it!.

    Exploit bibliographies: Often there are scholarly articles that give an overview of research in specific fields. The sources cited in the bibliography are good starting points for further research.

    Look up these sources in the Library Catalog. Check the subject headings listed in the subject field of the online record for these books and journals. Then do subject searches using those subject headings to locate additional titles.

    Finding Background Information

    Once you have identified the main topic and keywords for your research, find one or more sources of background information to read. These sources will help you understand the broader context of your research and tell you in general terms what is known about your topic. They will give you an idea of how much and what kind of information is available on a given topic.

    Encyclopedias and dictionaries: You can find subject-specific encyclopedias and dictionaries by using the CU Library Catalog or by asking a reference librarian. You may wish to also consult Reference Universe Online or some of the Dictionaries and Encyclopedias available via Find it!.

    Exploit bibliographies: Often there are scholarly articles that give an overview of research in specific fields. The sources cited in the bibliography are good starting points for further research.

    Look up these sources in the Library Catalog. Check the subject headings listed in the subject field of the online record for these books and journals. Then do subject searches using those subject headings to locate additional titles.

    Reference sources for finding background information on your topics

    Use these reference databases to find and access articles in a variety of encyclopedias and subject dictionaries:

    Gale Virtual Reference Library

    A database of full text reference encylopedias and dictionaries for the Arts, Business, History, Law, Medicine, Religion, and Social Sciences.

    Oxfod Reference Online

    This databases contains over 100 language and subject dictionaries and reference works of Oxford University Press. Covers general reference, language, science and medicine, humanities and social sciences, business and professional subjects.

    Reference Universe


    A searchable database of back-of-the-book indexes to subject encyclopedias and other reference works in a wide variety of subject areas. Search the contents of more than 4,500 reference titles.

     

    Look at Books!

    Look at Books!