Make an organizer, separate out your topic into different sections and decide whether you have enough content to fill your paper. If there is too much content, maybe your topic is too broad, and if you can't find enough research or information, then maybe it's too narrow.
I believe the answer to your question is "wood". This is because people usually get slivers from wood, and considering the start of you last word, it seems to make sense. Also the previous analogy thing, Speck is to dust, is a very realistic analogy thing, so the next one would probably need to be realistic. I hope I helped! And if you need more information, please tell me. :D
