Douglas D. Schumann Library & Learning Commons: HIST 4175-04: Modern American History: Getting Started with a Topic

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How to Choose a Topic

The first step is to pick a topic related to American history from 1865 to the present that you would find interesting since you will be spending time researching it.

CREDO Instruct Tutorial: Choosing a Topic
CREDO Instruct Video: How to Narrow your Topic (4 min)
CREDO Instruct Tutorial: Background Research Tips

Encyclopedias and Background Information Sources

Once you have an idea, do a little background research to learn more about it by searching encyclopedias, the library catalog, or Wikipedia. Here are a few places to begin:

Credo Reference
Encyclopedic coverage in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities
Encyclopedia Britannica
Find background information on your research topic
Oxford Art Online
Art, architecture, and design encyclopedia
Very Short Introductions
Discover a new topic or subject with these intelligent and serious introductions written by authors who are experts in their field. We also have some Very Short Introductions in print