Start off on the right foot with these tips:
What do you find interesting?
What are you curious about?
Does the topic meet the requirements of the assignment?
Is the topic too narrow or too broad?
Look for ideas in your textbook, the table of contents of books, your syllabus, or your instructor.
Skim an encyclopedia article.
Watch a short video.
What is the scope of the project?
How much time do you have?
How much information is needed?
What type of information is needed?
Use a variety of resources: reference books, specific books, articles, documentaries, primary sources, reputable websites...
Organizing your resources will help you write your paper, create accurate citations, and avoid plagiarism.
Organizing information will help you identify gaps in your research and create a project that makes sense and flows. Try an outline, mind map, sticky notes, index cards, or an app.
Easy-to-access books on a variety of topics.
Videos are a quick and fun way to learn about a topic. Use them as visual aides in presentations or speeches. These resources are recommended for topics related to the Humanities.
Databases are easy to search and contain articles from thousands of journals, magazines, and newspapers. These resources are recommended for topics related to the Humanities.
Reference books provide basic, background information in a quick, accessible format. These resources are recommended for topics related to the Humanities.
