Howcome? is a useful way to limit some topics. Howcome? seeks reasons for why interesting things are interesting and important things are important. Ask yourself some howcome questions about your topic. Focusing on reasons is a good way to isolate an essay, term paper or article topic. Once you have something to say about reasons for the way things are, or were, then you are very close to having a thesis (or argument, or point) you can work with. Having something to say about your topic is absolutely crucial. It also make doing research much easier because you know what you’re looking for in your reading.