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FYWS - Justice: Topic/Research Question

Find Background Information

Background information
helps you:
 

  • Start thinking about your topic
  • See the big picture
  • Identify major issues
  • Discover something that interests you

Use quality, professionally produced sources to familiarize yourself with the topic (not just Google and Wikipedia).

Try these:

Narrow Your Topic

Consider these questions:

Ask yourself open-ended questions to focus your topic. You don't have to answer all of the questions. Some might not apply or be helpful.

 
Use the five w's: 
  • Who: demographic focus (gender, age, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status)
  • What: aspects, details    
  • Where: geographic location
  • When: either present day or a particular time period in the past
  • Why/How/So What!: importance, impact (societal, individual)

Keep in Mind:

Your ideas and opinions might evolve and change as you review the literature.