This document provides guidance on developing a research topic using subject specific databases. It discusses choosing a topic of interest and narrowing it by adding context like history, communities, disciplines or audiences. The topic is then transformed into a research question and its significance is explained. Keywords are identified from the topic, question and significance statement to facilitate database searches. Strategies discussed include exploring subject databases in groups, recording findings and sharing with the class. The overall goal is to practice developing an assignment topic using library resources and developing a search strategy.

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

3. Developing Your Topic
Topic -- Question -- Significance
Image courtesy of flickr user D. Robert Wolcheck

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

6. Developing Your Topic
Topic -- Question -- Significance

7. Topic
War and Film

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
Other ideas?

9. Examples
• History
» Depictions of war in film over time
• Different Communities
» Depictions of African American soldiers in film
• Discipline
» Communication; Political Science; Business
• Audience
» Popular; Experts; Critics

10. Topic
War and Film
• Depictions of African Americans in films about
war

11. Discussion
• Describe your primary topic to your neighbor.
• Integrate a context to develop your topic.
• History
• Different communities
• Discipline
• Audience

12. Developing Your Topic
Topic -- Question -- Significance

13. Question
• Add a question such as how, why, or in what
ways to your topic.
• How have African Americans been depicted in
films about war over the past 70 years?

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 have African Americans been depicted in
films about war over the past 70 years?

16. Writing Reflection
• Transform your topic into a question.
• Incorporate
How
Why
In what ways

17. Developing Your Topic
Topic -- Question -- Significance

18. Significance
• So what?
• I am studying…. So that…..
• What do you want your reader to understand?
• I am studying…. In order to help my reader to
understand…

19. Stereotypes, War & Film
I am studying
Depictions of African Americans in films about war
Because I want to find out
» If common stereotypes of African Americans are present
in films produced since the end of World War II
So that
» Writers and filmmakers can be more aware of how to
authentically depict African Americans in film.

20. Keep it Open
I am studying
Depictions of African Americans in films about
war
Because I want to find out
» If common stereotypes of African Americans are present
in war films
So that
» Writers and filmmakers can be more aware of how to
authentically depict African Americans in film.

21. Reflection & Discussion
Apply significance to your question
• I am studying ___________ because I want to
find out ___________ in order to help my
reader understand ______________.

22. Thesis Statement
By examining film criticism, scholarly literature, and
popular sources related depictions of African
Americans in films about war, this paper establishes
that common media stereotypes of African
Americans are less prevalent in films depicting
African American soldiers. The author
demonstrates that these war films are more
successful at authentically depicting African
Americans than other films, and shares strategies
for writers and filmmakers to counteract
stereotypes in their work.

23. Questions?

24. Identifying Keywords
Joshua Vossler, Selecting and Using Keywords

25. Identifying Keywords
I am studying
– Depictions of African Americans in films about war
Because I want to find out
» If common stereotypes of African Americans are present
in war films
So that
» Writers and filmmakers can be more aware of how to
authentically depict African Americans in film.

26. Identifying Keywords
I am studying
– Depictions of African Americans in films about
war
Because I want to find out
» If common stereotypes of African Americans are present
in war films
So that
» Writers and filmmakers can be more aware of how to
authentically depict African Americans in film.

27. Finding the Context
• Research Guides
• Background Information
• Article Databases

28. Collaborative Exploration
• Select a subject specific database
• Explore in your groups
• Record your thoughts on Padlet
• Share with the class

29. Questions?
Any last questions about
• Topic Development
• Database searching
• Search strategy

30. Nicole Branch
Instruction Librarian
nbranch@scu.edu
408.554.5436
Thank you to flickr users:
Jeff Babbitt
Evelyn Flint
Kirsten Pauli
& D. Robert Wolcheck
for sharing their work through
creative commons license.