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Narrow by asking myself 5 simple questions...

4 minute how-to video by the Ohio State University Libraries explains 5 simple questions that will help you to narrow down your topic quickly: Who? What? When? Where? Why?

5 Ws Narrow My Topic Worksheet

Optional worksheets will help you narrow down your topic using the 5Ws described in the video on this page.

Narrow My Topic

Narrow My Topic/ Google Doc Worksheet

Background information

Gale Virtual Reference Library This link opens in a new window
- What it is: A collection of eBooks broken up into collections.
- Who It Is Great For: Anthropology, Art (Art Studies, Visual Arts), Business and Administration (Accounting, Business Administration, Business Information Systems, Business Studies, Health Care Management, Management), Cannabis Studies, General Studies, Geography Studies, History Studies, Liberal Arts, Sciences (Biology Studies, Chemistry Studies, Physics Studies), Sociology Studies, Spanish Studies, Technology Studies (Biomolecular Science, Environmental Science)

E- Books

EBSCO eBooks This link opens in a new window
If accessing QV Library online resources from off-campus, you will be prompted to sign in with your 8-digit Net-ID and password--this is not the same as creating or logging into your personal Ebsco account!

Points of View : PRO/CON

Use "limit to peer review" or "limit to academic journals" to exclude popular magazines and newspapers from the results list.

Every article comes with a suggested MLA citation.

Library Databases - organized by subject

Issues & Controversies
- What it is: Pro- and Con- viewpoint articles on many "hot topics." Also includes overview or background articles and news. Sometimes includes primary sources, newspaper editorials and videos. Keyword search or browse popular topics by category or alphabetical listing.
- Who It Is Great For: Communication Studies, Criminal Justice (Criminology Studies), General Studies, History Studies, Human Services (Human Services, Social Work Studies), Political Science Studies, Sociology Studies

Newspaper Databases

News & Newspapers
- What it is: ProQuest’s collection of digitized news content, from the latest headlines and developments in contemporary politics, culture, health and technology, to historical coverage dating back to the 1700s.
- Who It Is Great For: Anthropology, Communication Studies, General Studies, History Studies, Political Science Studies, Sociology Studies

ProQuest Newspapers
Search all 7 newspapers listed below as well as many other major daily newspapers by choosing the “ProQuest Newspapers” link,or focus your search by choosing just one newspaper from this list.

Additional Databases

Academic Search Premier This link opens in a new window
Gale Academic OneFile This link opens in a new window
- What it is: A large collection of multi-media resources including scholarly articles from more than 17,000 journals, thousands of podcasts from NPR and CNN, and videos from BBC Worldwide Learning.
- Who It Is Great For: All Students

Points of View:Pro/Con

Citing Sources

Citing Sources- MLA,APA, Chicago /Turabian
The following Citation guide provides information on how to cite your sources for either:
*MLA
*APA
*Chicago/Turabian.

* Locate helpful videos on how to cite and format sources

* Citation Guides for each citation style. ( MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian)

* Quick Reference documents for each citation MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian