Get to Know your Topic

Before you start searching for sources, you need to know the nuts and bolts of your topic.  Background information will help you:

• Understand the basic elements of your topic
• Narrow and focus your research question
• Determine relevant keywords and search terms
• Plan your research

Background research can take many forms, such as general googling or reading a wikipedia article.  However, subject encyclopedias are trustworthy, academic sources written by experts on the subject.  Subject encyclopedia entries, or articles,also include a list of references, or further reading on the subject, that you can also use for your research.

Find and track the background information you find on the Get to Know your Topic Worksheet.

The link will prompt you to make a copy of the document.  Once you have filled in your answers, save the copy and send it to your instructor.