Assignment Topic Keywords Resources Test Yourself

 

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Test Yourself: What Have You Learned?

1. What are the characteristics of a good topic?

(Select all that apply.)

It interests you.
It meets the requirements of your assignment.
It is broad enough to give you several search options.
It is focused enough that you're not overwhelmed with information.

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A good topic will incorporate all of these characteristics!

2. Rank the following questions in order from being most general to most specific: (1 being most general and 4 being most specific)

a. Are pesticides bad?
b. Do video games cause violent behavior in adolescent males?
c. Are agricultural workers in Mexico at a higher risk of health problems due to pesticide exposure because of lax government safety standards?
d. Is there a relationship between fast food consumption and obesity?

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The correct order is a, d, b, c. The more a research question incorporates the concepts of Who, What, When, Where, Why and How, the more specific it will be.

3. What is the best way to focus your topic?

Think about the discipline that you are researching for
Tailor your topic to the requirements of your assignment
Talk to a librarian about the resources that are available for your topic
All of the Above

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The correct answer is "All of the Above." There are many different ways to focus your topic.

4. Pick the best set of keywords to begin searching for information on global warming.

Rising ocean levels, air pollution, greenhouse gases
Biodiversity, atmospheric temperature, ozone layer
Global climate change, greenhouse effect, atmospheric carbon dioxide
Environmental sustainability, alternative energy, biofuels

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The correct answer is "Global climate change, greenhouse effect, atmospheric carbon dioxide." Think carefully about which terms are closely related to global warming.