Help starting your research
The resources on this page can help you pick a research topic, identify keywords that can be used as search terms, and develop a search strategy. For more helpful information see our Beginning Research Tutorial guide.
Topic Ideas
One of the key things to remember when selecting a topic is to choose a subject that is of interest to you. It makes the research process more enjoyable, and we tend to produce a better product. Some places to get ideas for papers:
- Opposing Viewpoints in Context > Click "Browse Issues," or search by category
- CQ Researcher > Click "Browse Reports" By Topic, By Date, ProCon, Issue Tracker, Updates
- LexisNexis News from around the world
- Europa World Plus > Select Region > General Survey (for current issues)
- The New York Times: Times Topics
- Issue Lab See Explore box and choose Issue Areas
- Pew Research Center: Social & Demographic Trends Polling and data of Americans
Generating Search Terms
As you select your topic, you should make a list of search terms, or keywords, that you will use to locate appropriate information sources. Watch this video to familiarize yourself with this process.
Important: Databases frequently have their own subject terms, which can differ from the terms you've selected. The video below can instruct you on how to choose appropriate search terms.
Selecting a Topic
The first step in a research project is to select a topic. In this video, students offer personal insights into how they approach this task.
