Seven Steps to Effective Research

Step 2: Find Background Information and Prepare for Research

Consider your topic

Before you begin research make a list of dates, people, events, concepts, and keywords related to your subject. General reference sources such as dictionaries and encyclopedias may provide you with additional words and phrases.

You may want to form your topic in a question.
Then identify keywords relating to your topic.

Example: What is the effect of teenage pregnancy in high schools?
Keywords:

Find background information in the MCC Library Reference Collection

Use general reference sources, such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, biographies or almanacs to get started on your topic. Many are available in the Library in the Reference Collection on the second floor.

As well as general encyclopedias and dictionaries, use subject-specific sources to help choose a topic or narrow one you already have. To find subject-specific sources you may wish to browse the Reference Collection under the Library of Congress call number(s) which relate to your topic. Or, you may use the Library Catalog to see if the library has any reference sources on your topic.

Use a topic-specific bibliography to find more resources.

A number of Research Guide brochures are available in a display next to LB245 or online.