When looking for a topic, the first step is to look for background information, like short summaries or overviews of topics.

A good place to start is with reference books. Things like encyclopedias, dictionaries, and almanacs give you the basic facts about a topic, which tells you what to type in search boxes to find more sources. Reference books let you…

• gain a broad and general understanding of the topic.
• learn important names, key facts, issues and debates, and answers to questions.
• identify relevant search terms and strategies.
• identify sources for further reading

Finding a topic sounds easy, but finding a good topic may take some effort. Look for topic ideas in textbooks, in your class notes, in encyclopedias, and on the Internet. After you find a possible topic, you may need to adjust as you learn more about that topic. Here are a few things to keep in mind: