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ENGL110 class page

Doing Background Research

When you start a research project, background research can help you:

  • Understand the size and scope of a potential topic
  • Find subtopics that interest you
  • Learn key terminology for the topic
  • Identify influential people and events 
  • Discover highly-cited sources about the topic

Databases for Background Research

The following databases can help you find overview articles about your topic. 

Strategies for Exploring a Topic