How to turn a broad, general research topic into a more specific and manageable one by adding concepts to the original.

1. Start with your topic

2. Narrow it down by adding a sub-topic

3. Think of other ways to narrow it
down, like time…

4. or place…

5. More ways to narrow it down
• Add more sub-topics and related topics
• How your topic affects a particular group or
sub-group
• A research methodology
• A school of thought
• A controversial, unusual or new point of view

6. Your narrowed topic is where all of
these aspects overlap.

7. FOR EXAMPLE…

8. Topic: women’s daily lives

9. …middle- and upper-class

10. …in the early- to mid-19th century

11. HOW WOULD IT LOOK IF YOU WANTED
TO TALK ABOUT MEN’S DAILY LIVES?
Draw it yourself:

12. HOW WOULD IT LOOK IF YOU WANTED
TO COMPARE WOMEN’S DAILY LIVES IN
JAPAN AND ENGLAND?
Draw it yourself:

13. HOW WOULD IT LOOK IF YOU WANTED
TO STUDY THE TOPIC BY READING
NOVELS WRITTEN BY WOMEN IN THAT
ERA?
Draw it yourself: