Find an overview article.

That way, you can:

• Refine and narrow your topic
• Discover background information
• Identify keywords that will help you search for other resources
• Obtain the first scholarly, citable source for your project

Reference works, particularly subject encyclopedias and handbooks, are full of overview articles and are perfect starting points for your research. Not only do you get authoritative content, you also get a recommended reading list which will lead you to other high-quality content. 

Find print and electronic encyclopedias in our collection by combining your topic keywords with the word "encyclopedia" in the search bar below. EXAMPLE: "conflict and encyclopedia"  You might also try combining topic keywords with words like "handbook," "dictionary," "research guide," or "companion."