Too Much Too Little
YOU FOUND TOO MUCH INFORMATION: Brainstorm!
Sample broad topic: Health of African-Americans 85 and older
Circle the most important words and phrases.
- Health
- African-Americans
- 85 and older
Come up with synonyms and broader or related concepts.
- Health: illnesses, health care, treatment, death rates, convalescence, nursing homes, hospitals
- African-Americans: Blacks, Afro-Americans, women, men, females, males
- 85 and older: aged, senior citizens, elderly, seniors, mature adults, old age, aging, ageing
Consider adding or narrowing other limiters.
- time period: 2000-2002
- geographic region: Los Angeles
- event or aspect: large vs. small social support networks; strokes
- person or group:[no additional people or groups]
Revised topic sentence:
Do African-American women in L.A., 85 and older, with large social support networks cope better with stroke-related problems than those with small social support networks?
YOU FOUND TOO LITTLE INFORMATION: Brainstorm!
Sample narrow topic:
How did Latina caregivers in the L.A. area handle diabetes-related problems of their parents, 85 and older, between 2000 and 2002?
Circle the most important words and phrases.
- Latina
- caregivers
- diabetes-related problems
- their parents
- 85 and older
Come up with synonyms and broader or related concepts.
- Latina: Chicana, Hispanic, Latinos, women, men, females, males
- caregivers: health care workers, home health care
- diabetes-related problems: health, health care treatment, illnesses, diseases
- their parents: “sandwich generation,” mothers, fathers
- 85 and older: aged, senior citizens, elderly, seniors, mature adults, old age, aging, ageing, 65 and older
Consider removing or broadening other limiters
- time period: 1992-2002
- geographic region: California
- event or aspect: [no additional events or aspects]
- person or group: [no additional people or groups]
Revised broader topic:
How did Latino caregivers in California handle health problems of their parents, 65 and older, between 1992 and 2002?
Remember, topics evolve as you conduct research.
