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You have your research paper assignment, but where to start?
The answers to these questions will vary, depending on the specific assignment and the preferences of your professor, but here are a select few steps to help get started with any research project:
Start by reading the assignment instructions carefully. There will often be clues about the kinds of topics that will fit the assignment. Second, scan your course textbook, readings and notes for any broad topics that interest you. You can always ask your instructor for guidance as well. If you can find a topic that piques your curiosity and fits within the focus of the course, you are halfway to finding a good topic!
Once you have a broad topic of interest, to better understand (and write about) any research topic, and to effectively search the literature, you should first determine and define the main concepts involved. Brainstorm about the topic and find a Wikipedia entry on or related to that concept or event (this is called "background reading").
DO NOT use Wikipedia or other encyclopedia entries as a source for your paper. BUT Wikipedia can give you the historical context (how has the thing, theory, or technology evolved over time?, what people, laws and policies are involved?) and possible narrower aspects of the topic to focus on. This will also help you find the correct terminology for searching and understanding the scholarly literature (e.g., peer-reviewed journal articles).
Start with the search box on the library home page (OneSearch). Use the options on the left side of the results page after you search to limit to scholarly/peer-reviewed, by date, and more. Also explore the Subject Guides relevant to your area of study to find discipline-specific search tools and other information sources (these often search just within the literature of a single area of study).
Consult the Search Tutorials for strategies on what to type into any search box. Remember it starts with having a handle on the relevant terminology, which goes back to doing background reading.
Quick Search Tips:
Go to the Cite Your Sources help pages and choose the tab at the top that aligns with the citation style you are using. If you can't find what you need, Ask-a-Librarian via our 24/7 live chat service, located in the top right of the library home page.