Definition
Background information includes basic information on a research topic such as important terms and concepts, relevant names of people or places, and dates of specific events. It helps you get an overview your topic, discover keywords for searching databases and identify a narrower, more focused aspect of your topic about which to write.
Where to Search
Try these library databases for topic overviews and access to online encyclopedias:
For an in-depth look at CQ Researcher, please refer to LAVC Library's CQ Researcher Guide.
Your instructor may not want you to cite Wikipedia as a source, but it can still be a useful tool for gathering background information on your topic. While Wikipedia must be approached with caution, especially with articles that are covering contentious subjects or evolving events, it is often the best source to get a consensus viewpoint on a subject. Because the Wikipedia community has strict rules about sourcing facts to reliable sources, and because authors must adopt a neutral point of view, its articles are often the best available introduction to a subject on the web.
The focus on sourcing all claims has another beneficial effect. If you can find a claim expressed in a Wikipedia article, you can almost always follow the footnote on the claim to a reliable source. Scholars, reporters, and students can all benefit from using Wikipedia to quickly find authoritative sources for claims.
If you are researching a complex question, starting with the resources and summaries provided by Wikipedia can give you a substantial running start on an issue.
Source: Check, Please! Starter Course (canonical version of course found here)
