Narrowing Your Topic

by Mrs. Rannow

Your teacher has asked you to write a paper about some aspect of popular culture.

Topic

PopularCulture

This topic is really broad and needs to be narrowed down!

There are many sub-topics you could choose from:

music, fashion,

art, sports

PopularCulture

You need to choose one.

PopularCulture

music

This sub-topic is still too broad and you need to continue to narrow this down.

You need to think of other ways you can narrow the sub-topic of music! Here are some suggestions:

TimePlace

Related topics

How your topic affectsa particular group

A research methodology

A school of thought

A controversial, unusual or new point of view

So

PopularCulture Music

Guitar

1980s

Rock

Here is the topic you would write about.

popular rock music for the guitar in the 1980s a more manageable topic .

Writing Topic

rock songs

Writing Topic: popular rock music for the guitar in the 1980s .

Now brainstorm some keywords and phrases that you could use

individually or combine that would help you find information.

rock musicians

types of guitars

rock groupsGuitar playing techniques

music influences

rock music1980s

Music

Here are the keywords and phrase arranged from broadest to narrowest:

MusicRock music

1980sRock groups

Rock musiciansRock songs

Music influencesTypes of guitarsGuitar playing

techniques