The Writing and Research Workshop Series 2. Selecting and Narrowing your Topic

1. The Writing and Research Workshop Series 2. Selecting and Narrowing your Topic UCQ Learning Commons

2. Phase 1: Understanding Getting Started Phase 2: Planning Selecting and Narrowing your Topic Developing your Thesis Searching Effectively Choosing Appropriate Resources Creating your Outline Phase 3: Writing Paraphrasing, Summarizing and Quoting Citing your Sources in APA Style Revising your Draft The Writing and Research Process

4. Phase 2: Planning 2. Selecting and Narrowing your Topic Selecting a Topic • When you have been given a topic in the assignment instructions: • What choices have you been given? What are your limits? • Is it specific enough to determine a thesis question and begin research? • If not, use the assigned topic for the next steps: • Brainstorming, and • Coming up with some preliminary research terms

5. Phase 2: Planning 2. Selecting and Narrowing your Topic Selecting a Topic • When you are required to choose a topic: • Are you given any potential areas to explore? • What do you know already that is related? • What would you like to find out? • Are your initial ideas connected to course content?

6. Phase 2: Planning 2. Selecting and Narrowing your Topic Narrowing your topic • What is your topic? How can you make it more specific? • Who? • What? • Where? • Why? • When? • How? • What are the results or implications? • SO WHAT?

7. Phase 2: Planning 2. Selecting and Narrowing your Topic Narrowing your topic • Choose a general area of focus: • Geographic • Demographic • Time period • Etc

8. Brainstorming Phase 2: Planning 2. Selecting and Narrowing your Topic • The purpose of brainstorming • What do you know about the topic? • What would you like to find out? • Write down EVERY idea you have about it. • Are there connections between your ideas? • Are there any irrelevant ideas?

9. Brainstorming Phase 2: Planning 2. Selecting and Narrowing your Topic • The various methods • Free writing • Lists • Mind map

10. Determining some search terms Phase 2: Planning 2. Selecting and Narrowing your Topic • Background information • General – broader topic • Specific – narrower term • Add new terms / concepts • Record your sources - ALWAYS

11. Phase 2: Planning what to write 2. Selecting and narrowing your topic • Using evidence from at least three scholarly sources, explain what you feel is the most important change that should occur within nursing in Qatar. You are to develop arguments that will support and explain the change and convince your audience that the change is necessary. • Your audience must be specific, but you can choose who it will be. Some examples include government employees or ministers, hospital administration, doctors, or patients. You must also clearly indicate the benefits of the change. Some areas you may consider are: • Health promotion • The role of the nurse • Education • Sponsorship • Government policy • Doctor-nurse relations • Nurse-patient relations • The public and private health care systems

12. Phase 2: Planning what to write 2. Selecting and narrowing your topic • Brainstorming exercise: • Choose your audience • Choose a topic • Choose one brainstorming method and brainstorm the topic • Find a source to better understand your selected topic

13. Next Week: • Phase 2: Planning what to write • 3. Developing your Thesis

14. UCQ Learning Commons Writing Support Come to the Writing Centre at any stage of the writing process for help and advice. In the Learning Commons, or contact Martin at mholock@ucalgary.ca

15. UCQ Learning Commons Research Support Come to the Learning Commons for help and advice with your research. Go to the the Learning Commons desk, or contact Chris at cthomas@ucalgary.ca, or Keltie at rossk@ucalgary.ca