Background research is one of the most effective ways to develop and refine your topic. It can help:
Find out how you can use the library's reference tools to help with your background research in this video introduction...
CQ Researcher includes reports that offers in-depth coverage of political and social issues, such as health, international affairs, education, the environment, and human rights.
A reliable scholarly alternative to Wikipedia. As well as traditional encyclopedic entries, check out the 'mind-map' feature to explore related concepts within your topic.
Opposing Viewpoints in Context
A variety of opinion pieces, statistics and reports grouped by current events and social issues.