The strongest researchers spend their energy at the beginning of the research process reading around the topic.
Research topics can often feel daunting if you do not start with a strong foundation of understanding. So take time at the beginning of your research to access sources that are well oraganized with basic background information about your topic - such as an encyclopedia database.
Read around your topic with Encyclopedia Databases.
During the beginning stages of your research, reading around your topic helps you to:
Encyclopedia Databases provide thorough background information on a variety of topics and are a strong resource at this stage of research.
While reading around and exploring your topic, collect key words, events, people and subtopics related to your research. Use these terms to search on article encyclopedias and online.
Students who want to browse possible topics can use a magazine style website such as JSTOR Daily.
JSTOR Daily connects news and analysis to academic research. There are many interesting articles about history, science, literature, news, pop culture and more, that may inspire a topic idea for you.
