Library Home :: Services :: Instruction :: Course Specific Research Guides :: Communications 3023

Selecting a Topic

a. Browse for Ideas | b. Developing the Topic

Browse for Ideas

Not sure what you want to write about? Background resources, such as encyclopedias, are good places to start because they can:

• give you the history of the subject area
• give you a broad overview of the topic
• provide a basis for further searching including the appearance of keywords that can be used for setting up a search strategy

Finding Background Sources

Use UCAT, the UTSA Library Catalog to search for handbooks, encyclopedias, dictionaries and more.

• Try keywords such as:
• encyclopedia AND mass media
• handbook AND psychology

Read the Search Tips to learn how to conduct a better search.

The Communication Studies Subject Guide lists commonly used sources for background information

The database *CQ Researcher* provides ideas for topics if you don't already have one.