Selecting and Narrowing a

Topic

Objective: Students will understand the hierarchical relationships of broader and narrower in order to select a narrow a research topic

Analogies look like this:

battery : flashlight :: hard drive : computer

Analogies read like this:

Battery is to flashlight as hard drive is to computer

This is a type of analogy called “Part to the Whole”

Here’s another “Part to the Whole” analogy.

How do you read it?

Chapter is to book as volume is to set.

chapter : book :: volume : set

Now let’s try a few “Part to the Whole” analogies together.

finger : hand : : toe :__________________

episode : television series :: song :___________

member : group :: page :____________________

Hierarchy – a system of persons or things arranged in a graded order

Hierarchical relationship – an interconnected order between persons or things

Subject – a broad area of study that covers many topics and subtopics

Topic – a focused, narrowed aspect of a subject

Subtopic – one specific event, type, problem or question related to a topic; A subtopic could also be a comparison between two related types

World War I

A. BattlesB. Roles of WomenC. Problems of the SoldiersD. Weapons of the war

The Battle of YpresThe Battle of the IsonzoThe Battle of the AtlanticThe Battle of Caporetto

Women in industryNursing

Nerve DisordersInfluenzaCasualtiesDehydration

Nerve GasHand GrenadesThe Machine GunCombat DestroyersBiological Weapons

World War II. Battles A. The Battle of Ypres B. The Battle of Isonza C. The Battle of the Atlantic D. The Battle of CaporettoII. Roles of Women A. Women in Industry B. NursingIII. Weapons of War A. Nerve Gas B. Biological Weapons C. The Machine Gun D. Hand GrenadesIV. Problems of Soldiers A. Nerve Disorders B. Influenza C. Dehydration D. Casualties