Background information helps you learn about aspects of a topic that might interest you.
The best way to complete your background research is with reference sources like subject encyclopedias, handbooks, and dictionaries. They provide basic information and broad overviews of a wide variety of topics.
MC Library has reference sources both online and in print. Take a few minutes to read broadly about your topic using the suggested sources listed below or visit your campus library for help using print reference sources.
Articles from Encyclopaedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus. Includes maps, photos, illustrations, videos, multimedia clips, and the Britannica Yearbooks dating back to 1993.
History, philosophy, arts, and cultures of the U.S. in relation to the world, from pre-colonial days to the present, with perspectives from the global American Studies movement.
To choose a research topic, begin with general background information. This will help you explore topics of interest, develop research questions and search terms, and decide where to look for sources.
