Focusing Your Topic
Selecting a reasonable amount as a topic
Explore these concepts:
- Choose a subject or area of interest.
- Focus it.
- Narrow and shape your subject into a specific thesis sentence.
Begin
Ancient Crete
General Subject of Interest
When given a writing assignment, read or listen very carefully to what the assignment is about.
Then consider your area of interest in choosing your topic
For example, let's say you wanted to write about the island of Crete.
Would you be able to cover the topic in the number of pages your instructor has assigned?
- History
- migration
- wars (Ottomans, Venetians, Turks, Germans …)
- People
- origin
- culture
- customs
- foods
- myths
- Land
- resources
- terrain
- crops
- caves
- beaches
- mountains
- gorges
- climate
Too much! This would require a few books.
Focus It
The Palace of Knossos - Minoan Architecture
Narrow Your Interest
People
- Minoans
- People
- Culture
- Customs
- Foods
- Myths
- Architecture
- Games
Still too much to cover in a 3- 5 page essay.
This would easily fill a book.
Focus It More
Minoan Architecture - Palace Features
Narrow Your Interest More
Minoan People
But can't decide between:
- customs
- palace design
Focus it Again
Palace Features - Halls, Residential Rooms, Storage Rooms,
Bath Rooms with plumbing, Game Court
Checking available resources
Do a bit of research and background reading.
Which topic has better resources making you want to get into the subject more?
Read so that you can be knowledgeable on the subject.
- customs
- palace design
Subject Focus: Minoan Palace Design
Complete!
Now, narrow and shape your subject into a specific topic:
BROAD SUBJECT |
Palace Design (functional design) |
NARROWED TOPIC |
The
features of the Palace of Knossos |
RESEARCH QUESTION |
What do the features of the Palace Knossos reveal
about the lifestyle of the Minoans? |
THESIS STATEMENT |
The features of the Palace Knossos reveal
a great deal about the lifestyle of the Minoans who lived within. |
NOTE: Your thesis statement includes your position on the topic. See next link.