Once you have a general idea about what you want to research, you might need a little help to create your thesis question (that is, exactly what you want to know about this specific topic). Try browsing through some background resources such as the following:
These are great sources of general information about your topic and related topics. Write down key terms from these resources that you might not have thought of using in a search, and don't forget to look at the bibliography and references for each encyclopedia article that you read!
Since background resources are considered "common knowledge" in the world of academic research, the general rule of thumb is: Don't cite background resource information! Ask your professor or librarian what to do if you absolutely must cite an encyclopedia.
Please note that if you are citing an article from Credo Reference or Encyclopedia Britannica Online, you will need to following the citation style for database articles.
Begin your plan by reading background information about a broad topic. Try using newspapers, reference books, the Credo Reference database, or talk to the reference librarians. Here are some online background resources to try. If you would like to use a print encyclopedia, please stop by the library to use our Encyclopedia Americana or World Book Encyclopedia.