Read a general encyclopedia article on the top two or three topics you are considering.
Reading a broad summary enables you to get an overview of the topic and see how your idea relates to broader, narrower, and related issues. It also provides a great source for finding words commonly used to describe the topic. These keywords may be very useful to your later research.
If you can't find an article on your topic, try using broader terms and ask for help from a librarian.
Once you have identified some keywords, the next step is to find background information on your topic. Background research:
Background information can be found in:
These and other sources are often listed on our LibGuides.