Library: ENH291: Step 1: Background Research

Before starting any research project, it can be helpful to gather some background information about the topic. Background information will provide you with an overview of the important issues, causes/effects, problems, and potential solutions related to your topic. It can help you understand the history as well as the current conversation around the topic as well. This background knowledge will aid in your understanding of the more complex aspects of specific issues and subtopics that you will be researching. You can use several of the library databases to do background research.

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Reference Sources

Take a look at a few reference articles linked below from some of the library's reference databases. As you explore these resources and read about your topic, you can:

identify subtopics, specific issues, main ideas, or key concepts
identify important terminology, keywords, or phrases
identify important/relevant people or organizations

Early Childhood Literacy

Fairytales, Nursery Rhymes, and Children's Literature

History of Childhood

History of Childhood

Search for additional background articles in these reference databases.

Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window Online version of reference works in every major subject area.
Credo Reference This link opens in a new window Online version of reference works in every major subject area
Literature Resource Center This link opens in a new window Find up-to-date biographical information, overviews, full-text literary criticism and reviews on more than 130,000 writers in all disciplines, from all time periods and from around the world. The optional MLA International Bibliography module adds citations for hundreds of thousands of books, articles and dissertations from 1926 to the present, linked to full text where available.

While you read through the articles, you will want to take note of specific issues and important terminology or keywords. Keywords will be your *key* to relevant search results when you begin searching for sources.