Why Background Information?
Background information, such as the type of information found in encyclopedias, serves many purposes:
- Provides an overview of the topic, as well as relevant context, including events, people, and main concepts.
- Provides a starting point for reflecting on related keywords that can be used to search for more information.
- Provides information that may assist you in narrowing (or broadening) your topic.
- Provides information that may assist you in formulating a topic statement or research question.
