If possible, select a topic that interests you. If your instructor assigns a topic, make the most of it by finding something about it that interests you. Narrow the topic as much as possible.
- Topic too narrow - limits the amount of resources you are able to find.
- Topic too broad - requires spending all of your time looking at resources.
For example, If I was looking at the topic of ethics I might think about the topic in a specific career field, like nursing. I do not want to narrow my topic too much, like the the ethics of treating a patient with Von Willibrand disease, as I may not find enough information with a topic that specific.
Explore your topic using a reference resource like an encyclopedia to learn more about the topic and find keywords for searching.