Narrowing Your Topic

Think about your message…

	In your paper…
	WHAT might you
	SAY about your topic?
	or
	What QUESTIONS might you  ANSWER about your topic?

And how are you going to do it…

	in just  (how many )  pages?

Narrowing Strategy 1: Aspect

	Focus on a particular ASPECT of the topic:
	Not: Food
	But: Religious aspects of food

Narrowing Strategy 2: Time

	Focus on your topic during a particular TIME PERIOD
	Food production between
	1990 and 2000

Narrowing Strategy 3: Type

	Focus on a specific TYPE or CLASS of people or things as they relate to your topic:

Narrowing Strategy 4: Place

	Focus on a particular PLACE
	Popular foods
	in Hawaii

Narrowing Strategy 5: Add Two Topics

	Focus on the relationship between TWO DIFFERENT TOPICS
	Food and Gender

Now, a really big tip:

	COMBINE different kinds of focuses:
	Food preparation as related to  gender roles in WASP homes in the United States from 1950 to 2000.

A Review of Narrowing Strategies:

	Narrow your topic by focusing on:
	Aspect
	Time
	Type
	Place
	Its relationship with a second topic
	A combination of two or more of the above