Deciding on a topic is possibly the most difficult part of doing research. If you're not sure where to start, talk with your professor, ask a librarian, or...
- Think about a topic that interests you.
- Do some background reading from a textbook or subject encyclopedia.
- Narrow your topic to something manageable. You may need to rework it several times as you research.
- Try "Mind Mapping" or concept mapping your topic after consulting some background sources. You can also use Credo Reference's Concept Mapping tool.
- Once you have an idea, write it out as a short sentence or question then pick out search terms. Ex. "How does stress affect memory?" Search terms: stress, memory.
- Find information by using the multiple sources available on the library catalog. If you need a place to get started, check the Reference Tools section in the College Writing II libguide.
