Once you’ve considered what you already know about your topic, you can develop a research plan. To do so, answer the following questions:
What kinds of sources (books, journal articles, databases, websites, government documents, specialized reference works, images, videos, and so on) will you need to consult? How many sources should you consult?
How current do your sources need to be? (For topical issues, current sources are usually most important. Older sources are often useful for historical research.)
How can you determine the location and availability of the kinds of sources you need?
Do you need to consult sources contemporary with an event or a person’s life? If so, how will you get access to those sources?
One goal of your research plan is to begin building a strong working bibliography. Carrying out systematic research and keeping careful notes on your sources will make documenting your sources easier when it’s time to do so.