How Background Reading Helps
Background reading enables you to fine-tune the goals of your research project and point you in useful directions for further information gathering. Background reading can help you:
- Investigate a topic that is unfamiliar to you
- Determine the scope of your research—getting an overview of a subject can often help you decide on whether your topic is too broad or too narrow
- Identify the important names, dates, and terms associated with your topic—understanding the who, what, where, when, and why of your topic will provide context for your own searches
- Locate bibliographies—checking the lists of works cited in your background readings can direct you to relevant resources for further reading and research
