{"id":500,"date":"2016-04-04T18:06:58","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T18:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=500"},"modified":"2016-07-24T19:25:45","modified_gmt":"2016-07-24T19:25:45","slug":"text-ways-to-narrow-down-a-topic","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english-gen\/chapter\/text-ways-to-narrow-down-a-topic\/","title":{"raw":"Text: Ways to Narrow Down a Topic","rendered":"Text: Ways to Narrow Down a Topic"},"content":{"raw":"<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>When to Narrow a Topic<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Most students will have to narrow down their topic at least a little. The first clue is that your paper needs to be narrowed is simply the length your professor wants it to be. You can't properly discuss \"war\" in 1,000 words, nor talk about orange rinds for 12 pages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Steps to Narrowing a Topic<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<ol class=\"ol1\">\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">First start out with a general topic. Take the topic and break it down into categories by asking the five W\u2019s and H.<\/span>\r\n<ul class=\"ol1\">\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Who? (American Space Exploration)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">What? (Manned Space Missions)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Where? (Moon Exploration)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">When? (Space exploration in the 1960's)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Why? (Quest to leave Earth)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">How? (Rocket to the Moon: Space Exploration)<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Now consider the following question areas to generate specific ideas to narrow down your topic.<\/span>\r\n<ul class=\"ol1\">\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Problems faced? (Sustaining Life in Space: Problems with space exploration)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Problems overcome? (Effects of zero gravity on astronauts)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Motives? (Beating the Russians: Planning a moon mission)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Effects on a group? (Renewing faith in science: aftershock of the Moon mission)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Member group? (Designing a moon lander: NASA engineers behind Apollo 11)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Group affected? (From Test Pilots to Astronauts: the new heroes of the Air force)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Group benefited? (Corporations that made money from the American Space Program)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Group responsible for\/paid for _____ (The billion dollar bill: taxpayer reaction to the cost of sending men to the moon)<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Finally, refine your ideas by by considering the <b>S.O.C.R.A.P.R<\/b>. model.<\/span>\r\n<ul class=\"ol1\">\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>S <\/b>= Similarities (Similar issues to overcome between the 1969 moon mission and the planned 2009 Mars Mission)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>O <\/b>= Opposites (American pro and con opinions about the first mission to the moon)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>C <\/b>= Contrasts (Protest or patriotism: different opinions about cost vs. benefit of the moon mission)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>R <\/b>= Relationships (the NASA family: from the scientists on earth to the astronauts in the sky)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>A <\/b>= Anthropomorphisms [interpreting reality in terms of human values] (Space: the final frontier)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>P <\/b>= Personifications [giving objects or descriptions human qualities] (the eagle has landed:\u00a0 animal symbols and metaphors in the space program)<\/span><\/li>\r\n \t<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>R <\/b>= Repetition (More missions to the moon: Pro and Con American attitudes to landing more astronauts on the moon)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h2>Contribute!<\/h2><div style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\">Did you have an idea for improving this content? We\u2019d love your input.<\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1UZ8SGw14QDeihpG2NdQEUMof9I_kRc7glur2nl2E07g\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 600; color: #077fab; text-decoration: none; border: 2px solid #077fab; border-radius: 7px; padding: 5px 25px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; line-height: 1.5em;\">Improve this page<\/a><a style=\"margin-left: 16px;\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1vy-T6DtTF-BbMfpVEI7VP_R7w2A4anzYZLXR8Pk4Fu4\">Learn More<\/a>","rendered":"<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>When to Narrow a Topic<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Most students will have to narrow down their topic at least a little. The first clue is that your paper needs to be narrowed is simply the length your professor wants it to be. You can&#8217;t properly discuss &#8220;war&#8221; in 1,000 words, nor talk about orange rinds for 12 pages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Steps to Narrowing a Topic<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol class=\"ol1\">\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">First start out with a general topic. Take the topic and break it down into categories by asking the five W\u2019s and H.<\/span>\n<ul class=\"ol1\">\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Who? (American Space Exploration)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">What? (Manned Space Missions)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Where? (Moon Exploration)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">When? (Space exploration in the 1960&#8217;s)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Why? (Quest to leave Earth)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">How? (Rocket to the Moon: Space Exploration)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Now consider the following question areas to generate specific ideas to narrow down your topic.<\/span>\n<ul class=\"ol1\">\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Problems faced? (Sustaining Life in Space: Problems with space exploration)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Problems overcome? (Effects of zero gravity on astronauts)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Motives? (Beating the Russians: Planning a moon mission)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Effects on a group? (Renewing faith in science: aftershock of the Moon mission)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Member group? (Designing a moon lander: NASA engineers behind Apollo 11)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Group affected? (From Test Pilots to Astronauts: the new heroes of the Air force)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Group benefited? (Corporations that made money from the American Space Program)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Group responsible for\/paid for _____ (The billion dollar bill: taxpayer reaction to the cost of sending men to the moon)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><span class=\"s1\">Finally, refine your ideas by by considering the <b>S.O.C.R.A.P.R<\/b>. model.<\/span>\n<ul class=\"ol1\">\n<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>S <\/b>= Similarities (Similar issues to overcome between the 1969 moon mission and the planned 2009 Mars Mission)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>O <\/b>= Opposites (American pro and con opinions about the first mission to the moon)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>C <\/b>= Contrasts (Protest or patriotism: different opinions about cost vs. benefit of the moon mission)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>R <\/b>= Relationships (the NASA family: from the scientists on earth to the astronauts in the sky)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>A <\/b>= Anthropomorphisms [interpreting reality in terms of human values] (Space: the final frontier)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>P <\/b>= Personifications [giving objects or descriptions human qualities] (the eagle has landed:\u00a0 animal symbols and metaphors in the space program)<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"li2\"><b><\/b><span class=\"s1\"><b>R <\/b>= Repetition (More missions to the moon: Pro and Con American attitudes to landing more astronauts on the moon)\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>Contribute!<\/h2>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 8px;\">Did you have an idea for improving this content? We\u2019d love your input.<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1UZ8SGw14QDeihpG2NdQEUMof9I_kRc7glur2nl2E07g\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-weight: 600; color: #077fab; text-decoration: none; border: 2px solid #077fab; border-radius: 7px; padding: 5px 25px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; line-height: 1.5em;\">Improve this page<\/a><a style=\"margin-left: 16px;\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1vy-T6DtTF-BbMfpVEI7VP_R7w2A4anzYZLXR8Pk4Fu4\">Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t\t\t <section class=\"citations-section\" role=\"contentinfo\">\n\t\t\t <h3>Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t <div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <div id=\"citation-list-500\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <div class=\"licensing\"><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Original<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Revision and Adaptation. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Lumen Learning. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"license-attribution-dropdown-subheading\">CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div><ul class=\"citation-list\"><li>Ways to Narrow Down a Topic. <strong>Provided by<\/strong>: Utah State University. <strong>Located at<\/strong>: <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/ocw.usu.edu\/English\/intermediate-writing\/english-2010\/-2010\/narrowing-topics.html\">http:\/\/ocw.usu.edu\/English\/intermediate-writing\/english-2010\/-2010\/narrowing-topics.html<\/a>. <strong>License<\/strong>: <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"license\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\">CC BY-NC-SA: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike<\/a><\/em><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t <\/div>\n\t\t\t <\/section>","protected":false},"author":19,"menu_order":5,"template":"","meta":{"_candela_citation":"[{\"type\":\"cc\",\"description\":\"Ways to Narrow Down a Topic\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Utah State University\",\"url\":\"http:\/\/ocw.usu.edu\/English\/intermediate-writing\/english-2010\/-2010\/narrowing-topics.html\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"},{\"type\":\"original\",\"description\":\"Revision and Adaptation\",\"author\":\"\",\"organization\":\"Lumen Learning\",\"url\":\"\",\"project\":\"\",\"license\":\"cc-by-nc-sa\",\"license_terms\":\"\"}]","CANDELA_OUTCOMES_GUID":"2a8fb8f8-4752-4796-8d0a-3a83f949a330, b5fd1998-86ab-45f7-a220-bb8c87109b2c","pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-500","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":19,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english-gen\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/500","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english-gen\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english-gen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english-gen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english-gen\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/500\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2847,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english-gen\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/500\/revisions\/2847"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english-gen\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/19"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english-gen\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/500\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english-gen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english-gen\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=500"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english-gen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=500"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/waymaker-level1-english-gen\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}