How to find background information
Overview
Background research is an important step in choosing a topic and getting started on your paper. You can use background sources to acquire basic knowledge of your subject, including key facts, issues, or thinkers. Taking the time to find background information helps you to:
- Understand your subject
- Clarify your subject’s context
- Define specialized terms you are not yet familiar with
- Discover keywords that can be used in later searches
- Learn about important authors and dates
- Find additional sources in bibliographies or recommended reading
- Pick a subject both interesting and well-documented
