Go from topic to research question to meaningful resources with this History research guide from Academic Support.
READER version
Research and Narrowing Topics in History
Successful historical research starts with asking the right questions. A focused topic makes it easier to find relevant and reliable information.
- Brainstorm ideas.
- Discuss your ideas with classmates or friends.
- Explore credible web sources.
- Create a mind map to organize your thoughts.
A strong research question helps guide your research.
Ask yourself:
- Who are you researching?
- What are you researching?
- When did the event or time period occur?
- Where did the event take place?
- Why is this topic important to research?
Remember: Your research question may change as you learn more about your topic.
If your question is too broad, you may find more information than you can effectively use.
Example: Why did the United States bomb Japan during World War II?
If your question is too narrow or complex, it may be difficult to find enough reliable sources.
Example: While President Thomas Jefferson was in France, why did he support the Marquis de Lafayette and help draft some of his speeches during the French Revolution?
- Mind Mapping: A visual brainstorming tool used to organize ideas and show relationships between concepts.
- Research Topic: The general subject you want to investigate.
- Research Question: A focused question that guides your research and helps you find relevant information.
- Primary Source: An original document or artifact created during the time being studied, such as letters, diaries, speeches, photographs, or government records.
- Secondary Source: A source that analyzes, interprets, or summarizes information from primary sources, such as textbooks, journal articles, or documentaries.
- Historical Context: The social, political, economic, and cultural conditions that help explain why an event happened.
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