Concept maps, or Mindmaps are helpful techniques for exploring and refining a topic. Start by writing your topic inside a circle in the center of a sheet of paper, or use online mapping software .
The topic "genetics" is a good beginning, but is too broad, this will be the center circle. From here draw a few branches with the subtopics: Criminal evidence, Ethical issues, and Medical research.
To refine further, draw more branches and circles off of each subtopic.
These methods can also help you uncover connections between ideas; when you see a relationship between branches, draw a double line connecting them. When you're done the outside branches of your map should contain narrower topics better suited to a short paper.
Adapted from Merlin - UMass Amherst