Plan Your Research

Jump To: Gather Background Information | Additional Tips

Planning your research will help you find relevant resources when you conduct your search. The background information that you found when defining your topic can help you to think of appropriate search terms This section will help you plan your research.

1Gather Background Information

Start by gathering some background information about the subject. Look at sources such as the following to find out about your topic:

Example: Gathering Background Information
I tried the following sources for information:

Note: Wikipedia is a great starting point, but it should not be used or cited in your actual paper.

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Additional Tips

1. Look at Wikipedia (opens in new tab)
Online encyclopedias like Wikipedia are good sources to begin with, and may lead you to new concepts to search for more credible academic sources. Be sure to evaluate the resources you find.
2. Get an overview of the topic
Look at major article on the topic to get a sense of the major points.
3. Record your sources
Make sure you keep track of good articles you find and save the citation (see citations tools in citation guide)
4. Check out the library’s Subject guides
These guides are a good starting point for research, and include suggested digital resource collection for your search.
5. Use a Thesaurus (opens in new tab)
Write down synonyms for your search terms. They may help you find relevant resources.