SO 101-03: Introduction to Sociology

Choose a topic you’re interested in

Background reading can help you choose and limit the scope of your topic. Do background research using reference materials like dictionaries and encyclopedias. 

• Gather key facts, dates, events and names
• Get a historical overview
• Define key terms

Stay within assignment guidelines

Refine your topic

• Narrow your topic if your topic is too broad. Otherwise, you will find too much information and not be able to focus. Narrow by time period, location, specific demographic, or a particular aspect of the subject.
• Broaden your topic if there is not enough information or research available or if it’s too specific.

1. If too specific, generalize your subject
2. If too new for much to have been written, consider changing topics
3. Use a variety of source material - different databases, books, government reports
4. Change your search terms (keywords) - you may be using terms that are not subject-specific or are too specific

Think of the who, what, where, when and why questions

• WHY did you choose the topic?  What interests you about it?  Do you have an opinion about the issues involved?
• WHO are the information providers on this topic?  Who might publish information about it?  Who is affected by the topic?  Do you know of organizations or institutions affiliated with the topic?
• WHAT are the major questions for this topic?  Is there a debate about the topic?  Are there a range of issues and viewpoints to consider?
• WHERE is your topic important: at the local, national or international level?  Are there specific places affected by the topic?
• WHEN is/was your topic important?  Is it a current event or an historical issue?  Do you want to compare your topic by time periods?

At MU Writing Services, you'll find a dedicated team of undergraduates, graduate students, professionals and faculty who are eager to offer writing assistance to the Monmouth community. Our motto is: we help produce strong writers, not just better papers! We offer writing instruction one a one-to-one basis to students at every level, of every major, and at every stage of the writing process.
Writing Services appointments are 30 minutes long and run continually throughout the day.

• Monday through Thursday: the first appointment is at 9:30 a.m. and the last appointment begins at 8:15 p.m.
• Friday: the first appointment is at 9:30 a.m. and the last appointment begins at 4:15 p.m.
• Sunday: the first appointment is at 5:15 p.m. and the last appointment begins at 8:15 p.m

The Writing Services office is located in the lower level of the Stafford Student Center, and is open weekdays from 8:45 to 5 p.m. You may contact us via email at WritingServices@monmouth.edu or by calling 732-571-7542. Please make an appointment with us and find out what we are all about! 

There are several ways you can save your research work as you move through your project:

Create an account within a database (JSTOR, Academic Search Complete, Credo, etc.) and save articles to folders.

Send individual articles to yourself, print them, save to a thumb drive or upload to Google Drive using the database widgets provided. These will look slightly different depending on the database, and are typically found when you open up individual articles. You can also download a PDF if it's available. Here's what the widgets look like in the Ebsco databases: 

Create an account in Zotero or NoodleTools. Not only will you be able to save articles here, but you can keep lists of search terms, book titles and other resources types, and there are templates that help you create your paper and/or bibliography. There are tools to create documents for all major styles/formats (MLA, APA, Chicago Style, etc.).

Create an account within MLA Style Center or Academic Writer (APA Style). There are tutorials and templates to help you create your paper and/or bibliography using MLA/APA style. Use Chicago Style Online for Chicago Style format.