International Studies

Encyclopedias, handbooks, and subject dictionaries are good places to locate background information on your topic.

Background sources may help you identify key ideas, writings, events, and theorists on your topic. They may also help you to narrow your topic and begin to formulate research questions. 

Quick tip: Use background resources to identify keywords you can use when searching. Especially note:

• Spelling 
• Place name changes
• Events & dates
• Scholarly vocabulary 

In addition to building a keywords check the bibliographies for sources.  The books and articles cited in the encyclopedias are usually written by scholars and are an excellent place to expand your research.