Learn more about promising subjects by using your library. You can gain a preliminary understanding of a subject by searching the library catalog, browsing library shelves, searching library databases, and consulting librarians. Begin by generating a few keywords and phrases related to the subject, and then search the catalog with them. Your search results will give you an overview of the subject. The titles of books and journals on the subject will give you insights into what other writers think is important about it. You’ll also be able to learn whether the subject is too broad to tackle on its own — or whether it’s so specialized that you’ll need to expand your focus.

If you are still interested in the subject after this preliminary research, spend a few minutes browsing the shelves in your library. Jot down or print out the call numbers for books and journals that appear promising, and locate them on the shelves. Skim these publications, and then look for nearby books and journals on the same subject. Spending as little as ten or fifteen minutes browsing the shelves can either confirm that a subject is worth pursuing or help you decide to look at others.

Some subjects are so recent that few books or journals focus on them. If so, try to gain an overview of your subject by searching news and article databases such as LexisNexis Academic or Academic Search Premier using the keywords and phrases you generated for your catalog search. Examine the titles and descriptions of the sources you find. In some cases, you might find links to full-text articles. If so, skim them to learn about the subject.

You can read more about searching libraries and databases in Chapter 12.

Finally, consider talking with a librarian about the subjects you’ve identified. Reference librarians or subject-area specialists can direct you to relevant sources, suggest related subjects, or help you narrow your focus.