Often students will be assigned a topic for a research project. If you are free to choose your own topic, consult course materials, such as textbooks and handouts, to get ideas, and consult your instructor to make sure your topic is appropriate. Sometimes conducting an Internet search may give you an idea for a topic.

Once you’ve chosen an appropriate topic, an overview can help you determine the kinds of issues you should consider.

Wikipedia offers a wealth of information, and it is often the first stop for students who are accustomed to consulting the Internet first for information. Be aware, though, that Wikipedia is user generated rather than traditionally published, and for this reason, the quality of information found there can be inconsistent. Many instructors do not consider Wikipedia a reliable source, so you should ask your teacher for advice on consulting it at this stage.

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Your library will likely subscribe to databases, such as Gale Virtual Reference Library or Oxford Reference Online, that you can search to find information from general encyclopedias and dictionaries as well as specialized, or subject-specific encyclopedias and dictionaries.

General encyclopedias, like Britannica Online, provide basic information about many topics. Specialized encyclopedias, like Encyclopedia of Addictions or Grove Art Online, provide a comprehensive introduction to your topic, including the key terms you will need to find relevant material in catalogs and databases, and they present subtopics, enabling you to see many possibilities for focusing your research.

Frequently, libraries prepare research guides— lists of reliable sources on popular topics. A guide can offer very useful suggested resources for research, so check your library to find out if such a guide is available. You may also find resources that provide good overviews of topics, such as CQ Researcher. A reference librarian can help point you in the right direction.