Step 2:  Scope it Out

Consult encyclopedias, dictionaries, guides to the field, biographical guides (examples). Search the Averett Library Catalog for books about the most important ideas in your topic statement. Do not expect to find specific aspects of the topic in the catalog. They may be covered in a chapter or reference from the book's index.

Using some of the words you listed in step one, search for articles in a general reference database, for example: Expanded Academic ASAP | CQ Researcher. For academic information on the Internet, limit a Worldcat search to "Internet resources."

Tip: Find a review article summarizing recent knowledge on the topic and citations to books and other articles. Annual Reviews indexes review articles on broad topics in the sciences and social sciences.

Read relevant chapters and articles, recording a citation and brief annotation for each. Note the name of the database with the citation so you can retrace your steps if necessary. Edit your word lists to include helpful subject terms and keywords. Draft a short abstract summarizing what you have learned about the topic.

Assets:  brief annotated bibliography | search terms | topic summary | Examples

Click on examples or Focus to continue.