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Read What Others Have Written

Even if you are familiar with a topic, you need to learn as much about it as you can before you begin to write. Reading what others have written about a topic will help you gather new information and ideas; it is also an important step in identifying conversations and determining which ones interest you.

Search online library catalogs for sources using title, author, and subject words. Before you begin your search, generate a list of words and phrases that are related to the topic you want to explore.
Browse library shelves to find sources related to those you’ve already located. Review the works cited lists, footnotes, endnotes, or in-text citations or particularly useful sources. Then find and review these cited sources.
Visit the periodicals room to find the latest magazines, newspapers, and scholarly journals.
Search databases just as you would search an online library catalog. To identify relevant databases, ask a reference librarian for assistance.
Search the Web using the search terms you used for your catalog and database searches. Remember, though, that many Web-based sources will not have undergone the same review process applied to sources in library catalogs and databases.
Browse the Web by following useful links from one site to another.
Use social media since Tweets, Facebook updates, or blog posts on your topic can lead to other relevant sources.
Visit online discussion venues, such as e-mail lists, newsgroups, and Web discussion forums to find everything from expert opinions to the musings of people who know little or nothing about a topic. If you read posted messages with a bit of skepticism, however, you can begin to learn about the issues surrounding a topic.