TOPIC DISCOVERY

Last modified by Steve Custer 4 September 2007

Introduction to Topic Discovery

One of the most difficult parts of writing a paper for a course is identification of an interesting topic to write about. A fruitful approach is to identify a topic region  and then read. In a professional setting, you might be given a topic region. For example, the problem of zoning restrictions for mobile homes is highly controversial. A planning board may wish to know what the most effective zoning approaches are in the Rocky Mountain West. Another example might relate to lithification. Quartz sandstones are sometimes cemented with silica and sometimes not. We need to know the origin of silica cementation to better define where porosity and permeability might be occluded near the rail head in Three Forks, Montana. Library research and writing are also needed to prepare an article for a journal or even for a proposal.  Most articles and proposals have a literature review which places the problem or work in context.  The context often revolves around divergent interpretations of existing data or demonstrates that there is an important gap in knowledge which is important to close.  The literature review places the work into the context of what is known.  The problem in class is similar but perhaps a little more difficult because the exact project you are to research has been left open. In Surface Water Resources the instructor might say, "Write a 6-10 page paper on a topic that has to do with the subject matter of this course". In both the professional and classroom case, the worst thing to do is to worry about what the topic is in detail; the best thing to do is to read and familiarize yourself with the literature so you can ask the right questions and identify your position based on what you have learned. By position I mean an idea, or point of view you wish to persuade others is correct. One place to start, even as a professional, is with a textbook. Reading summaries of ideas on the broad topic region commonly provides abundant material to get you started on the path to a good topic and eventually to a defensible position. Most text book chapters have excellent bibliographies which can also get you started on your search for references.

A second source for paper topics is the Discussion and Reply section found in many scientific journals. The most interesting papers are controversial and generate discussion regarding divergent points of view. Bruce Morton, Dean of Libraries, once told me, "when you walk into the library you should hear shouting (in your minds ear). People disagree about issues and write papers to state their points of view. The library records arguments.   A reasoned argument is usually very stimulating and is really the foundation of hypothesis testing in science. The author hypothesizes, "If  this position is true, this feature should be found in Indonesia." The researcher then searches for the feature and, if the feature is found, uses the data to persuade an audience regarding the acceptance (or rejection) of the hypothesis. Another researcher believes the methodology is wrong, the observation is incorrect, or the data has been misinterpreted and replies. In either case, the writer's task is to persuade a reader regarding a scientific point of view. A good place to find argument is in a journal like the Geological Society of America Bulletin or the Annals of the Association of American Geographers which contain a Discussion and Reply section. In such a section you can often plainly see the crux of the discussion because the protagonists and antagonists are doing their best to persuade the scientific community regarding their point of view.

A third source of topics is literature review articles, or even the literature review in a journal article. Most journal articles have a brief literature review early in the paper to place the paper in the context of the literature. You may find a rich source of information in these sections. From time to time, an author may write a summary of the status of knowledge about a specific topic in an article. These too can be quite helpful. In both cases you should be cautious. A literature review or review article written many years ago may be out of date. The best review articles are those written in the past few years. If you find a review article written long ago, you might use Science Citation Index to find who has cited the article since it was written. You will learn more about Science Citation Index when we go to the Library. The most difficult task is to find the review article. Good sources include text book chapters, bibliographic searches on the topic area of interest, and even browsing recent articles in journals which deal with the topic are of interest.

NOTE:  You are NOT required to write a paper for this course about a topic related to the paper you chose for this exercise.  These articles are examples of good (or problematic) sources of ideas for a paper topic.  They are intended as general examples of kinds of sources, NOT sources you must use.

Goal

Provide information regarding sources for paper topics.
 

Objectives

Examine Review Articles
    Scientific
    Popular
Examine Discussion and Reply
Examine Literature Review
Examine Textbooks

Assignment:

Come to class with a typed piece of paper with the following:
    1.  Your name
    2.  A  topic area of interest to you.
    3.  The answers to the questions below the paper you were assigned at the last meeting (see below).
Read topic discovery introduction above.
Skim read papers below with an eye to how such papers might help you identify a paper topic.
(If you were absent from class at the last meeting read Lamb et al. 2007.) 

Examples of different types of papers that can help you identify a topic.

The following are some examples of sources for topics.    The papers are on reserve in the library.  We will discuss these articles in terms of how a topic might be discovered from them.

A.  Discussion and reply is demonstrated by  Potyondy and Hardy (1995) and Kondolf (1995).
             1) What are the two points of view expressed in the discussion and reply article you read?
             2) How could Discussion and Reply in a journal help you select a paper topic?

Kondolf, G.M., 1995, Use of Pebble Counts to Evaluate Fine Sediment Increase in Stream Channels (Discussion): Water Resources Bulletin, v. 31, p. 537-38.  

Potyondy, G. J. P.., and Hardy, T., 1995, Use of Pebble Counts to Evaluate Fine Sediment Increase in  Stream Channels (Reply): Water Resources Bulletin, v. 31, p. 539-40.  

B. Retallack (1996) is an example of a review article.  Skim read it.
              1)  How can a review article help you select a paper topic?
              2)  Are there any risks or problems with using a review article to select a paper topic?

Retallack, G.J., Veevers, J.J., and Morante, R., 1996, Global coal gap  between  Permian-Triassic extinction and Middle Triassic recovery of peat-forming plants: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 108, p. 195-207.   

C.  Another review article example is Broecker and Liu (2001) which provides insight into a more controversial topic.  You may use this article to answer the questions above  if the subject matter is more interesting to you.
Broecker, W.S., and Tanzhuo, L., 2001,  Rock varnish: recorder of desert wetness:  GSA Today,
v. 11, no. 8, p. 4-10.

                  1)  How can a review article like this help you select a paper topic?
                  2)  How can an article like this help you identify a position (as opposed to a description of an arguement)?

D.   Lamb et al. (2007) in light of the discussion questions below particularly from the perspective of literature review. 
Lamb, M.P, Howard, A.D., Dietrich, W.E., and Perron, J.T., 2007, Formation of amphitheater-headed valleys by waterfall
erosion after large-scale slumping on Hawai'i:  Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 119, p. 805-822. 

            1)  How does a literature review section help to develop a paper topic?
            2)  If you were writing a research paper about data you collected, how would writing the paper for this class help you with your paper.

(Note:  You are not allowed to write a paper about data you collected for this class because in this class you are learning to use peer reviewed journals to develop a position and defend it.)

E.  Chandler et al. (2002) in light of the discussion questions above particularly  from the perspective of literature review.

Chandler, J., Ashmore, P., Paola, C., Goooch, M, Varkaris, F., 2002, Monitoring river-channel change using terrestrial oblique digital imagery and automated digital photogrammetry:  Annals of the Association of American Geographers, v. 92, p. 631-644.

    1.  How might you use this paper to find a paper topic for this course?
    2.  Are there problems that might make a paper such as this a poor source for a paper topic?

F.  How might your text book from a course help you to select a topic?

G.  Popular review articles might also help at this point.  For example Scientific American provides a clear summary of interesting concepts and provides references to the primary journal literature so you can learn more.  Because your paper is based upon the primary peer-reviewed literature, you are expected to use that primary literature in your paper rather than the popular article.
 

Activity:

    The class will break into small groups of 5 students who have read the paper handed out in class at the last meeting.  Each group will discuss their assigned paper and report back to the class regarding how that  paper or one like it might help you find a paper topic. 

Time Commitment

1.5  hours looking at articles above.
0.5  hours preparing a topic page and thinking about your topic.

Grade

1% Attendance; 1% Typed sheet of paper with your topic area and your thoughts about the the questions posed above. (Do before class not in class.  Come prepared.)