Research can be a daunting task, especially if you're not as prepared as
you could be. Aside from having a general topic in mind, there are a few things that will make your life a little
easier:
- Topic Draft: By creating a rough outline, you'll be able to focus more effort on gathering
information, rather than clumsily "stumbling" upon it. This will save you both time and money.
- Public Library: This is one of the most powerful research tools in your arsenal. Most
libraries catalog an assortment of major magazines and newspapers, which can be a wealth of information. At the very
least, you can use the bibliographies from related books to help focus your topic draft.
- Newspapers: Again, this is a great source of preliminary or abstract information that can't
always be found in the official records. You might even be able to search their old news archives online.
- Museums & Societies: Generally one of the best sources of information, especially if you
are researching a well-known or popular topic. These organizations often archive a wealth of information, and can
usually provide you with a list of additional resources or helpful individuals.
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