Skip to Main Content

Basic Research

Get in Touch

Ask a Librarian

Available Mon - Thurs
10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 2pm


 chat icon

Try Our FAQs

Learning Commons Quick Links


Tutoring - Writing, math and more

Learning Guides - Quick learning

Hours - Find out when we're open

Library Search - Find materials

Databases - Articles and more!

InterLibrary Loan - Request books

Books - Recommended books

eBooks - Thousands of free eBooks

Streaming Video - Learn by watching


Use the Library Search to find books, eBooks, articles, and more! 

 

Follow Us!

You can find Learning Commons information, book recommendations and so much more on JCTC's social media. 

facebook icon Twitter Icon instagram icon

Background Research

Start by choosing a broad topic you would like to learn more about. Some examples include:

  • Climate change
  • Immigration
  • Racism

CQ Researcher and Credo Reference are good databases for finding background information. 

Narrow Your Topic

As you read background information, take notes using this worksheet to answer Who?, What?, When?, Where?, and Why? questions about your topic.

Using your notes, narrow your topic. For example, narrower versions of the broad topics listed above could be:

  • Climate change impacts on human health
  • U.S. immigration policy impacts on children
  • Racism in the criminal justice system