As you are exploring your topic and developing your research question, it is a good idea to do some background reading. You may not know much about your topic at first, and doing some background research will provide a foundation for finding more information on your topic.
Background information can help you to:
Try looking in some of the following places to acquire background information on a topic:
Informal information sources are also good places to get a better understanding of your topic. Some examples include information published on social media, in popular magazines and newspapers, and found in discussion forums. These sources often lead to discovery of more formal resources after you have a better grasp of the topic.
Unless your assignment permits these types of sources, reference or background sources are generally not appropriate for citation in your academic work. This first phase of the research process is intended to give you a better understanding of your topic and guide your search strategy.
If you're not sure whether a source is appropriate for inclusion in your reference list, please ask your instructor for guidance.
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