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Nursing Tutorial

Write a Topic Sentence

To begin your research, write down one or more ideas for a topic in sentence form. Try to express your topic as a question. The topic should be narrow enough so that what you are trying to investigate is clearly defined, but broad enough that you are likely to find sufficient information in published sources.

Example: Do trauma nurses experience post-traumatic stress disorder?

Looking for Ideas?

Browse nursing journals to learn what researchers are writing about, or scan news sources to identify current news stories that interest you. Conduct a preliminary search on a single word or concept in:

Or

Know Little or Nothing About the Topic?

Consult your textbook. Its index or table of contents may list related items.

Consult a specialized dictionary or encyclopedia, such as the:

For assistance in developing a topic email the library: aclib@averett.edu.