Learn to Find, Access, and Manage Information

Choose or narrow your topic

Choose a topic you find interesting, whenever it's possible.
Explore! Search for background information before you commit to a topic. Look it up on the Web or in an encyclopedia to learn more about it.
As you explore, look for subtopics within your topic. Some topics are so big that you just can't squeeze them into a single paper. For instance, instead of trying to encompass everything about global warming, you could focus on a specific phenomenon like global warming's effect on hurricane severity, or how it impacts polar bear populations.
Don't be afraid to adjust or refocus your topic once you start researching. It happens to all of us!