You might need to learn a little bit more about your topic before you really start researching it.
Gathering some background information can help you:
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Read over your assignment and make sure you understand what it is you need to do. See if you can answer the following questions:
If you are picking your own topic, you might get ideas from:
Check your assignment to see if there are any guidelines related to what your topic can be. Check with your instructor if you have questions about whether a certain topic is acceptable for an assignment.
What are the main ideas (or keywords) of your topic? If you have a research question, identify the main ideas (or keywords) only. Keep your search to a few keywords.
Example:
Bubonic Plague AND 13th Century
Crusades AND 1700-1799
Ming Dynasty
King Louis XIV