Begin to understand your topic.

• Conduct some background research before finalizing your project idea. Newspaper and magazine articles and websites are good sources for quick, factual overviews of many topics.
  

Determine the types of research you will need to do.

• What kinds of information will be most helpful to you? For example, will you be looking for historical facts, statistics, or information from a particular group or person that you will gather through a personal interview?
• Look for materials that are easy for you to use and will give you the kind of information you need. Be critical of your sources. Do they cover the entire subject or do they present only one point of view? Look for more than one source so you can make up your own mind.
• If you find a good resource, look at its bibliography. The bibliography will list sources used by the author that may also be helpful to you.