Choosing a topic, narrowing it down to something less broad, and finding keywords can be the most challenging parts about research! Depending on the breadth of your topic, the database Global Issues (Gale in Context) or U.S. History (Gale In Context) can help with all of these things and is a good place to start. You can start by entering keywords in the database's search box, or use one of their tools to help you browse. Both databases function the same, so the instructions below are applicable for either database.
From the home page of either database, click the Browse Topics button. You'll see a list of research topics to help you get started. This list is also great if you're having trouble choosing a topic.
As you start your research, gathering background information on your topic will help you identify keywords and other ideas related to your topic so you can fully research it. This is called pre-research, the second step of the research process.
When you click on any topic in the list, the first thing you'll see is an overview of that topic. Click the blue Read More button to expand the preview. Read the overview to collect keywords and ideas related to the topic. You might start with the information listed in the Main Ideas box.
Another way to view your topic is to use the Topic Finder tool. It creates a visualization of your topic with subtopics and keywords.
This is a visualization of the topic Human Rights.
When you're in the Global Issues database and using the Topic Finder, you can click on any tile to take a closer look at it. To the right of the tile you selected, you'll see some articles related to the subtopic on the tile.
Use the Browse Map icon to view a world map and choose a country to study. When you hover over a country, you'll get a pop-up message that tells you how many issues are covered for that country. You can also select an individual country or territory from their drop-down menu.