Outline of Main Topics & Sub-Topics (in Politics) Best answer on the web

Posted in: darrelrussell.com edit
07 Jan 2009
  • > This is long only because I wanted to give examples and be clear. What I am looking for is a bit like a syllabus for a Politics college class, or a textbook table of contents. I would like an outline that covers all (most) topics in Politics. I would like 5 to 14 main topics, whichever number will work best. Each main topic would have 2 to 12 sub-topics. [Preferrably in the middle ranges of the numbers I gave, but I don't wish to cram too much into one, or have one be too sparse.] Below is a suggestion for a main topic with some sub-topics also filled in. I think this particular one is the most obvious and a necessary topic. B. Political Issues 1. Abortion 2. Gun Control 3. Environmental 10. Others For this project, I feel that "International Politics" should be a main topic, as the rest would have much more focus on U.S. Politics. I don't feel that "U.S. Politics" is a suitable main topic. Simply splitting any topic by party (Dem v Rep v Ind) is not nearly the best categorization, and splitting by office (President, VP, etc) is most likely not either. Again, we would like to cover as many bases as possible, in an organized fashion. But we want to give extra focus to topics which are the most interesting or controversial, have the most news (new events), which affect more people, etc. In this way, it is less like an old textbook. Perhaps like a Cliff's Notes. For this project, the first main topic could be simply "General" and "Current Events" could be a sub-topic. "Current Events" is a huge area, but perhaps not big enough to be a main topic. It could be difficult to split into only 10-14 sub-topics. But if you feel this should be a main topic, that is fine. This was only to help show what I'm looking for. The final main topic may be called "Other Topics", if you feel it should be. These links could help suggest some of the areas that need to be included: http://dmoz.org/Society/Politics/ http://dir.yahoo.com/Government/Politics/ http://search.about.com/fullsearch.htm?terms=politics Sub-topics could try to merge two things. Where it seems most necessary, please include synonyms / related terms next to a sub-topic. Such as "Environmental & Animal Rights (Ecology)". Also you might list some of the parts of a sub-topic (especially when there are only 2 or 3). Such as "Human Rights - Death Penalty, Affirmative Action, Poverty". (The example has many).


  • What this project is for? (school, building a syllabus, building a site/directory - what kind of site, etc.) What kind of categorisation do you think you'll need? For example, from what I could see in your examples, you are mainly concentrating on current events and issues. Do you need theories? schools? etc.


  • It sounds as if you are looking for a thesaurus or classification scheme. These might give you some ideas: http://lcweb.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/lcco_j.pdf http://www.ulcc.ac.uk/unesco/MTterms/615.htm Your library may be able to help you locate other thesauri/classification schemes


  • Thanks for asking for clarification. This is for online discussion (debate) boards / chatrooms / Q&A's / learning (resource) centers / polls / quizzes / etc. It will be a simple format, although that sounds like many diverse items. We would like to cover as much as possible, and make the categorization intuitive. We would like people to be able to find what area(s) they want, and have less in the Miscellaneous areas or off-topic. "History" could possibly be a main topic. "Current Events" could have "Presidental Election" as a sub-topic, if it is a main topic. We would prefer to have topics which probably do not need changing over time. Topics would have a description in which we could list the actual President's name, or other things which would need changing. Although sub-topics for specific presidents could be fine, as people would discuss them even after their term. I hope this is helpful.


  • Hi, the best way to organize a politics site that will not need much revision is to start the way that political science departments normally categorize politics. You have five basic categories or main topics. American Politics Comparative Politics International Relations Political Philosophy and Methodology See, for example, how Ohio State University explains their political science department. http://psweb.sbs.ohio-state.edu/ Of course, since you want to appeal to the masses, you would probably skip methodology and perhaps political philosophy. However, from this basic starting point you can add all types of sub-categories and sub-sub- categories. Here's an example. Under American Politics you could have a variety of sub-topics, Elections: - Federal --Presidential --Congressional - State: --Different State - Polling Issues: -Environment -Health Care --Abortion --Medicare --Prescription Drugs for Seniors (etc.) - Gun Control - Economy (Please note: the "-" and "--" indicate sub-categories and sub-sub-categories. Under Comparative Politics you could have sub-categories such as - Europe - China - Russia - Latin America - Africa - Middle East - South East Asia and then break them down into sub-sub categories similar to American Politics. In the International Relations category you could have sub categories such as: - US Foreign Policy - International Economics - Arms Control --Nuclear --Conventional - Environment Please note also that you could combine the Comparative Politics and International Relations into one big main category called "World Politics" and then divide that into regional and global issues. Under Political Philosophy you might want to consider the big three philosophies of the 20th century -Liberalism -Socialism -Fascism Of course, these are all just suggestions, but it seems to me, and the formal political science world, as the most intuitive way to organize politics. Additionally, there would be no reason to change the main categories and you could add and subtract from the sub-categories as the issues of the day dictated. Search strategy: political science, fields


  • Your suggestions are mostly fine, but the problem is that I have not been able to tie together the elements to make a final outline. I wanted to get a completed outline with the specific sub-topics and main topics - which I gave suggested numbers for. I wanted sub-topics to not need changing. I did not feel that "American/U.S. Politics" should be a main topic. My outline does not exactly have space for sub-sub-topics, which is part of why it is difficult to build this in an organized and complete way. With your suggestion, "Issues" is only a sub-topic, and I don't think that is necessary. I apologize if I have not been clear enough. The question may be too unusual, and I may need to work on the problem myself.


  • Hi, I appreciate your feedback. It's tough trying to get main topics and sub topics outlined. I'm sure there is a logic to your design needs. However, it does seem to be a bit counterintuitive to have an issues main topic and then go to a completely different path and choose international politics as another main topic. It does seem more intuitive to have both U.S. politics and International Politics as the main categories and then just use issues as the sub-category. "I wanted sub-topics to not need changing." If you just split the categories between U.S. and International Politics, the sub-categories would not need to be changed, although I could see how you would have to add to them as the issues changed. For example, stem cell research was a hot topic last summer and may be of interest next summer, but not too much in the news this summer. In the end though, it's best to choose a taxonomy that suits you. It's been my experience that your web site visitors will catch onto any design you choose, once you stick with it. Best of luck.