Background Information
When conducting research, we often discover that we do not know or understand all there is to know about a topic. We think we know, but then we discover there is another perspective or point of view that we had not considered. That is why reading background information can be helpful: It will help you understand the topic and help you focus on one aspect of the topic that is of interest to you. Below is a brief tutorial on picking your topic from North Caroline State University.
Topics & Background
When choosing a topic, think about how the concepts of race and ethnicity are viewed in your world.
Broad topics to consider are:
- Genetically Modified Organisms
- Drought
- Water
- Climate change
- Global Warming
Next, consider how those concepts are reflected in society: Focus on what you see as an example of the concept. Use your sources to support your thesis your ideas.
Develop a Research Question
Developing a research question is a process. You will not know your research question until you have done some preliminary research. You must find sources that discuss your ideas. As you learn more about your topic, your question will materialize and take shape. It will also change and shift. This is perfectly normal! Consider using the 5 Ws to help you narrow your topic and develop a research question.
Use the 5 Ws to narrow your topic
The Five W criteria can add context to your investigation and turn a topic into a research question.
- WHO describes an individual or select population you are investigating.
- WHAT describes a specific aspect or element that directly impacts the WHO.
- WHEN is a time frame in which you might limit your investigation
- WHERE is a geographical location where you might focus.
- WHY is the reason why this investigation is important or meaningful. The WHY is not necessarily a part of the final research question but more informative of the scope of the project in general.
Background Sources
Encyclopedia of Food and Culture by Call Number: REF GT 2850 .E53 2003This Dartmouth Medal-winning 3-volume set presents 600 articles on food and its place in human culture and society, covering everything from agronomy to zucchini. Students, academics and general researchers will find entries on everything from food preparation, distribution and storage to holidays and festivals, nutrition and health, and cultures and cuisines.
The Gale Encyclopedia of Science, 6th ed. by Vol. 6 for GMOs, Vol. 2 for Drought, Multiple volumes for Water, Vol. 2 for Climate Change, Vol. 3 for Global Warming
Encyclopedia of Global Warming by This work offers complete, authoritative coverage of the science, policy, and social issues surrounding global warming and climate change.
The Global Water Crisis by How is water scarcity becoming a serious problem worldwide--including in the United States? This book provides a broad overview of water, sanitation, and hygiene problems faced by both developing and developed nations around the globe and suggests how these problems can be solved by imaginative and innovative thinking.Human society depends on sufficient clean water.
Genetically Modified Foods by Call Number: REF TP 248.65 .F66 M34 2016An increasingly hot-button issue, genetically modified (GM) food is considered by some as the best way to feed the world's growing population, and by others as an experiment gone wrong on the unsuspecting public. Genetically Modified Foods: Basics, Applications, and Controversy details the basics of biotechnology and its applications in the laboratory and the field.
