1. Framing the Context:
Using Subject Specific Databases to
Explore Your Topic
Nicole Branch
Santa Clara University Library
Image courtesy of flickr user Jeff Babbitt
2. Objectives
• Practice a model to help develop
assignment topics
• Become familiar with subject-specific
library resources
• Develop a strategy for searching for
sources for your assignment
Image courtesy of flickr user Kirsten Pauli
4. Choosing Your Topic
• An interesting subject that came up in class
• Something you are passionate about
• A topic you would like to learn more about
Image courtesy of flickr user Evelyn Flint
5. Warm up
• Write down your topic as it currently exists
• If you don’t have a topic yet, write down any
topic you are interested in related to race,
class and gender
8. Focus your topic
• If you can state your topic in 2-3 words, it is
too broad.
• Narrow your topic by adding a context:
History
Different communities
Discipline
Audience
9. Examples
• History
» Depictions of African American men in the media
across time
• Different Communities
» Comparison of how majority people of color
protests are depicted in the media versus majority
white protests
• Discipline
» Communications; Business
• Audience
» Popular; Conservative; Ethnic news sources
10. Topic
Race & Media
• Media portrayals of white versus people of
color protesters
11. Discussion
• Describe your primary topic to your neighbor.
• Integrate a context to develop your topic.
• History
• Different communities
• Discipline
• Audience
13. Question
• Add a question such as how, why, or in what
ways to your topic.
• How do media portrayals of civil disturbances
related to race versus other civil disturbances
differ?
14. Common Mistakes
• Avoid questions with one word answers or
that cannot be answered within limits of the
assignment.
• Avoid questions that are too vague or cannot
be answered with research.
• Avoid speculation without evidence.
15. Question
• How do media portrayals of civil disturbances
related to race versus other civil disturbances
differ?
19. Race & Media
I am researching
Media portrayals of civil disturbances related to
race versus other civil disturbances
Because I want to explore
» The ways that the media impacts public perceptions of
activism related to issues of race.
20. Keep it Open
I am researching
Media portrayals of civil disturbances related to
race versus other civil disturbances
Because I want to explore
» The ways that the media impacts public perceptions of
activism related to issues of race.
21. Reflection & Discussion
Apply significance to your question
• I am researching ___________ because I want
to explore___________.
23. Identifying Keywords
I am researching
Media portrayals of civil disturbances related to
race versus other civil disturbances
Because I want to explore
» The ways that the media impacts public perceptions of
activism related to issues of race.
24. Identifying Keywords
I am researching
Media portrayals of civil disturbances related to
race versus other civil disturbances
Because I want to explore
» The ways that the media impacts public perceptions of
activism related to issues of race.
