FTS: Animals in the Bible: Developing Your Topic

For many, if not most, research assignments, you need to do more than understand a topic. You need to have some central idea about it, a thesis that is supported by evidence. One way to do this is to reformulate your topic as a question. Chances are your question will change as your understanding of the topic deepens, but it should help guide your search to have a specific research question in mind.

"taro is curious about the shutter sound #2" by _tar0_ is licensed under CC BY 2.0 .

You will have to spend some time mapping out the territory of a topic, sorting out what information is available and what different angles have been taken by others. This is often the most difficult part of the research process - and the most frustrating because you don't feel as if you're making much headway. Try these strategies to make the most of this part of the process:

• Make a list of possible topics for your research. Use class discussions, texts, personal interests, conversations with friends, and discussions with your teacher for ideas. Start writing them down - you'd be surprised how much faster they come once you start writing.

• Map out the topic by finding out what others have had to say about it. This is not the time for in-depth reading, but rather for a quick scan. Many students start with a Google search, but you can also browse the shelves where books on the topic are kept and see what controversies or issues have been receiving attention. Search a database or index of articles on your topic area and sort out the various approaches writers have taken. Look for overviews and surveys of the topic that put the various schools of thought or approaches in context. You may start out knowing virtually nothing about your topic, but after scanning the literature you should have several ideas worth following up.

• Invent questions. Do two things you come across seem to offer interesting contrasts? Does one thing seem intriguingly connected to something else? Is there something about the topic that surprises you? Do you encounter anything that makes you wonder why? Do you run into something that makes you think, "no way! That can't be right." Chances are you've just uncovered a good research focus.

• Draft a proposal for research. Sometimes a teacher will ask you for a formal written proposal. Even if it isn’t required, it can be a useful exercise. Write down what you want to do, how you plan to do it, and why it's important. You may well change your topic entirely by the time its finished, but writing down where you plan to take your research at this stage can help you clarify your thoughts and plan your next steps.

For example, if you choose a topic like "animal portrayals in the Bible" (a topic that can be researched), you might ask the following questions:

1. What are the key characteristics of the animals that are mentioned in the Book of Revelation?
2. How do the relationships between animals and humans evolve throughout the Old and New Testaments? 
3. How do the biblical arguments for ethical treatment of animals (e.g. Deuteronomy 25:4, Proverbs 12:10, and Job 39-42) compare to contemporary arguments?

Once you complete your list, review your questions in order to choose a usable one that is neither too broad nor too narrow. In this case, the best research question is "3." Question "1" is too narrow, since it can be answered with a simple list. Question "2" may be too broad; it implies that the researcher will cover the many types of animals and animal-human relationships that are mentioned throughout the Bible. Question "3," on the other hand, is focused enough to research in some depth.

As you consider potential research questions, you'll want to be sure that you are moving from basic observations toward deeper analysis and/or practical applications.