Use Background Info as a Starting Point

An overview of your broad topic area helps you understand...

• what the key issues are and how you may want to refine your topic
   
• who are the stakeholders (the groups or individuals this topic concerns)
   
• a context of how your topic relates to the other issues that surround it

• a historical perspective on your topic

• specialized vocabulary or search words that are used in your field (you will use these words for searches later in your research process)