Background Information
Background information is very useful when narrowing down your topic, or when first learning about your topic. Background research (or pre-search!) is the first step in the research process. Getting background information on your topic allows you to learn enough about your topic to decide which specific aspect of that topic you wish to focus on, and gives you enough information about your topic for you to be able to talk about your topic for about a minute without repeating yourself.
The best way to complete background research is to use a reference book!
Pre-Search Video
Gale Virtual Reference Library
You cannot checkout print reference books in the green section of the library, however, we do have a collection of digital reference books available to you through Gale Virtual Reference Library. Click on the button below to explore the collection!
Helpful Books For This Project
Contemporary American success stories : famous people of Asian ancestry by Call Number: E184 .O6 M28 1994 v.5ISBN: 1883845122Publication Date: 1994-09-01
Hispanic American Firsts by Call Number: E184 .S75 K36 1997bISBN: 0787605174Publication Date: 1997-05-01
People of Color in the United States by Call Number: E184.A1 P384 2016 v. 1ISBN: 9781610698542Publication Date: 2016-10-17
Immigrants, 1880-2007 by Call Number: HD8066 .D467 2000 v.8ISBN: 9781592371976Publication Date: 2008-02-01- The Book of Women's Achievements by Call Number: HQ1123 .M3 1976ISBN: 0812819330Publication Date: 1976
Women in American History by Call Number: HQ1410 .W6468 2017 v. 1ISBN: 9781610696029Publication Date: 2017-01-23
The American Middle Class by Call Number: HT690.U6 A465 2017 v.1ISBN: 9781610697576Publication Date: 2017-05-12
Encyclopedia of EducationCall Number: LB15 .E47 2003 v.1ISBN: 002865594XPublication Date: 2002-11-14
The Black Student's Guide to College Success by Call Number: LC2781 .B4656 1994ISBN: 0313294313Publication Date: 1994-11-30
