Schauffler Library: Humanities II: Getting Started

Choosing a Topic & Search Terms

Thinking Tool

Print out and use this handout from the University of Virginia Library to help you with brainstorming about a topic and choosing search terms.

Get to Know Your Topic

Do you have a topic idea you'd like to explore? Get to know your potential topic by exploring Reference Sources. Reference sources offer:

Background and overviews
Basic facts about your topic and anything related to it
Ideas and inspiration for further investigation

Reference Sources

Britannica School
A combination of the Encyclopædia Britannica and Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus.

To cite in NoodleTools: +Create New Source | Where is it? Database | What is it? Reference Source | URL is stable
Ethnic Diversity Source
This database covers the culture, traditions, social treatment and lived experiences of different ethnic groups in America. Includes peer-reviewed journals, magazines, e-books, biographies and primary source documents.

To cite in NoodleTools: From source page choose "Cite," export to "NoodleTools," and import the citation into your NoodleTools project | URL in citation is stable
Global Issues in Context
A great place to start for research on global issues — learn background information, get analyses, see primary documents, view multimedia, and more.

To cite in NoodleTools: From source page choose "Cite," export to "NoodleTools," and import the citation into your NoodleTools project | URL in citation is stable
Issues & Controversies
Discusses past and current issues with an historical overview of topic, along with pro & con discussions and videos.

To cite in NoodleTools: From source page choose "Cite," export to "NoodleTools," and import the citation into your NoodleTools project | URL in citation is stable
Opposing Viewpoints in Context
A complete overview of today's most pressing social issues, covering the most-studied events and current information. It includes viewpoint essays, primary documents, articles from reference books, newspaper and magazine articles, and journal content, as well as streaming video and audio.

To cite in NoodleTools: From source page choose "Cite," export to "NoodleTools," and import the citation into your NoodleTools project | URL in citation is stable
Salem History
This Database has a great selection of primary sources. The Decades series, Great Events from History, Milestone Documents, and Weapons and Warfare, which are also available as print resources in our Reference Collection, are included.

To cite in NoodleTools: +Create New Source | Where is it? Database | What is it? Reference Source | URL is unstable, use database name
U.S. History in Context
A complete overview of U.S. history that covers the most-studied events, issues, and current information. It includes viewpoint essays, primary documents, articles from reference books, newspaper and magazine articles, and journal content, as well as streaming video and audio.

To cite in NoodleTools: From source page choose "Cite," export to "NoodleTools," and import the citation into your NoodleTools project | URL in citation is stable
World Religions
A comprehensive reference database devoted solely to objective coverage of the world's major religions and spiritual traditions.

To cite in NoodleTools: From source page choose "Cite," export to "NoodleTools," and import the citation into your NoodleTools project | URL in citation is stable

Humanities II: Getting Started

Building Background Knowledge

Choosing a Topic & Search Terms

Get to Know Your Topic

Reference Sources