Why Do Background Reading?
Many students turn to Wikipedia for their initial exploration of a topic. This is fine, but be sure to augment your background research with sources you can actually include on an academic bibliography (a.k.a. your References list).
Conduct background research because:
- It is a great source of core knowledge on your topic
- It can generate ideas on different ways to focus your topic
- It can answer research questions you've already posed
- It may help you clarify and/or expand research questions.
- It often points you towards other sources of information on your topic
All of these resources are free for MJC students, faculty, and staff. If you're working from off campus, you'll need to sign in just like you do for Canvas or your email.
Recommended Resources for Background Reading: