2. Surge has a project in his English class. He has to
write a 3-6 page paper about any topic he
chooses. Where to begin??

3. Where can I get a topic idea?

4. Where can I get a topic idea?
0 Course material
What are you learning about in class?

5. Where can I get a topic idea?
0 Course material
What are you learning about in class?
0 Assignment
Does the assignment give you any topic ideas?

6. Where can I get a topic idea?
0 Course material
What are you learning about in class?
0 Assignment
Does the assignment give you any topic ideas?
0 Current literature in the field
Look at articles from magazines and journals in your
field of study for ideas.

7. Where can I get a topic idea?
0 News
What’s happening in the world right now?

8. Where can I get a topic idea?
0 News
What’s happening in the world right now?
0 Personal interests
Is there an appropriate subject you’re passionate about
you could use?

9. Where can I get a topic idea?
0 News
What’s happening in the world right now?
0 Personal interests
Is there an appropriate subject you’re passionate about
you could use?
0 Professor
Your professor might be willing to give you some ideas.

10. Where can I get a topic idea?
Remember, your professor might have specific
instructions or parameters for your topic, so keep those
in mind!

11. Surge decides to follow his interests … he has
dreams of being a rock star someday. So he
chooses the music industry as his topic.

12. Developing a Research Question
Once you have a topic …
… it’s time to turn it into a question you can
answer with your research.

13. Developing a Research Question
What about Surge’s topic, the music industry?
His question might be
What skills and training are required to be
successful in the music industry?

14. Background Information
Before going any further, you might want to get
some background information about your topic.

15. Background Information
So what is background information?
Background information consists of the basic
facts and vocabulary associated with your topic.

16. Background Information
You can find background information in sources
like
Encyclopedias

17. Background Information
You can find background information in sources
like
Encyclopedias
Dictionaries

18. Background Information
You can find background information in sources
like
Encyclopedias
Dictionaries
and Handbooks

19. Background Information
You can find background information in sources
like
Encyclopedias
Dictionaries
and Handbooks
You can also find information online, but be
careful—it might be inaccurate!

20. Background Information
Using the reference collection at the library,
Surge found lots of good background
information on his topic. He learned:

21. Background Information
Using the reference collection at the library,
Surge found lots of good background
information on his topic. He learned:
1. The music industry consists of people who make money
by creating or selling music.

22. Background Information
Using the reference collection at the library,
Surge found lots of good background
information on his topic. He learned:
1. The music industry consists of people who make money
by creating or selling music.
2. Professionals in the music industry include musicians,
producers, recording engineers, talent managers, radio
broadcasters, and many others.

23. Background Information
Using the reference collection at the
library, Surge found lots of good background
information on his topic. He learned:
1. The music industry consists of people who make money
by creating or selling music.
2. Professionals in the music industry include
musicians, producers, recording engineers, talent
managers, radio broadcasters, and many others.
3. The music industry has drastically changed since the
advent of digital music creation and distribution.

24. Identify Keywords
Once you have your question, it’s time to
brainstorm some keywords.
Keywords help you expand your perspective
about a topic and find search terms to use in the
catalog and databases.

25. Identify Keywords
From your research question, identify 2-4
important words or phrases. Underline them.
What skills and training are required to be
successful in the music industry?

26. Identify Keywords
From your research question, identify 2-4
important words or phrases. Underline them.
What skills and training are required to be
successful in the music industry?

27. Identify Keywords
Now brainstorm some words that are related to
those important words and list them below.
Don’t be picky right now, just list the first words
that come into your head!
And don’t forget to use the background
information you found for inspiration!

28. Identify Keywords
Topic Question: What skills and training are required to be
successful in the music industry?

29. Identify Keywords
Topic Question: What skills and training are required to be
successful in the music industry?
Skills & Training
Successful
Music Industry

30. Identify Keywords
Topic Question: What skills and training are required to be
successful in the music industry?
Successful
Skills & Training
•
•
•
•
•
Ability
Knowledge
Experience
Talent
Digital music
creation
•
•
•
•
•
Popular
Recognized
Sell
Talent
Create
Music Industry
•
•
•
•
•
Rock band
Popular music
Entertainment
Producer
Radio broadcaster

31. Identify Keywords
Once you have a strong list, you can always add
or remove words as you do your research.
Use these words in the catalog and databases to
narrow and expand your search.

32. Surge has lots of keywords to use in his searching.
He decides to search for “music industry” AND
ability. Let’s see what results he gets!

33. Surge has lots of keywords to use in his searching.
He decides to search for “music industry” AND
ability. Let’s see what results he gets!

34. Looking good, Surge! Now get researching!

35. Questions?
If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask a
librarian at libref@gsw.edu!