> 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).

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Request for Question Clarification by politicalguru-ga on 07 Aug 2002 00:25 PDT

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.

---

Request for Question Clarification by tehuti-ga on 07 Aug 2002 03:55 PDT

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

---

Clarification of Question by site-ga on 07 Aug 2002 12:26 PDT

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

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Request for Answer Clarification by site-ga on 10 Aug 2002 13:14 PDT

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.

---

Clarification of Answer by pm3500-ga on 10 Aug 2002 17:28 PDT

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.

Please see my last Clarification which includes reasons.