Before you begin your research you must choose a topic. You can identify areas of interest by doing some initial exploration, then refine your topic prior to searching. When selecting a topic you should:
Check the Assignment Details
- What is your Professor asking for?
- How long does your paper have to be?
- What sort of resources do you have to use?
Explore Topic Ideas
- Make sure you choose a topic that's interesting to you
- Is there something you have studied in class that you would like to learn more about?
- Having trouble thinking of a topic? Ask a Librarian for help!
Gather Background Information
- Explore library resources to learn more about your topic
- Library Encyclopedias, Google searches, newspaper and magazine articles, and Wikipedia are all good places to start
Refine Your Topic
- Is your topic too narrow?
- Is your topic too broad?
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