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Step Five: Be Flexible
Don't Be Afraid to Make Changes It's common to modify your topic while researching it, either because it's too narrow or broad, or simply because you decide some other aspect of your topic is more interesting than the one you first chose. Don't be afraid to make changes-this is a normal part of the research process! Keep in Mind the Assigned Length of Your Paper Be aware of the depth of coverage required and the due date. These factors can help you decide how much information to gather and when to modify your topic. Your instructor may have specific requirements. If not, the table below is a rough guide to how much research you'll need to do. | Length of Paper | Suggested Number of Sources | | 1-2 pages | 2-3 magazine articles or other items | | 3-5 pages | 4-8 items (books, journal articles, etc.) | | Annotated Bibliography | 6-15 items (books, journal articles, etc.) | | 10-15 pages | 12-20 items (books, journal articles, etc.) |
Step Six: Restate Your Topic as a Focused Research Question
Back to How to Select a Research Topic
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