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Global Women's & LGBTQ+ Issues - SOAN/GSWS 370 - Steindorf

Welcome to your library course guide!

After our two class sessions, you should be able to:

 

  • Find relevant research about your chosen issue

  • Find related data to support your research 

  • Identify NGOs that are working on your chosen issue

  • Choose an appropriate theory to explain your issue

 

Once you have written your initial question, ask yourself:

  1. Does this topic meet the assignment requirements?
    Your question should center on a puzzle about women or LGTBQIA+ people and should be global in scope.
     
  2. Can the question be answered too easily?
    Questions that can be quickly looked up do not make good research questions.
     
  3. Could anyone disagree with your research question?
    You want people to be able to disagree with your answer as this leads to discussion.
     
  4. Is there factual evidence to support your answer?
    Everyone has tastes and opinions; however, in academic work you need evidence to support your point.  If no evidence exists, consider shifting the focus of your point - perhaps look at the opposite perspective.
     
  5. Are there so many sources that you couldn't look at most of them?
    This might be an indication that your question is too broad.  Consider looking at some of the sources for ways to refine and focus your question.
Adapted from: Turabian, K. L., Colomb, G. G., & Williams, J. M. (2010). Student’s guide to writing college papers (4th ed.). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

Once you've selected a research topic, consider these questions:

1. What do you already know about your topic?  What do you want to know / need to know in order to write a paper?

2. What is your opinion on your chosen topic?  What other opinions might others have?