Selecting a Topic You may be starting with a general area that you want to explore. Now, narrow this subject to a topic that can be adequately addressed within the length constraints of your paper. Consult specialized encyclopedias in your subject. For instance, after browsing the literature on school vouchers you may want to look at the impact of school vouchers on test scores. You now have the question that you will try to answer with your paper.
Books Use books to get a good overview of a subject.
Because of their length, books tend to provide a more in-depth treatment of a topic. As mentioned above, books can also be useful for helping you narrow your topic. Once you have run your search you will get a list of records containing your keywords. As you browse these records, take a look at the subject headings that are shown. You may find a subject heading that is a good match for your topic.