Starting a research project can feel daunting, especially if you're not entirely sure what you want to research. If you're just getting started and looking for ideas or trying to understand your topic better, start by doing some background research. There are many great sources you can use to gather background information on your topic.
It's important when doing a research project that you are familiar with the key issues, theories, and questions related to your topic. Browsing through reference sources can help you get a sense of the big picture of your topic and what kinds of things are being researched. Seek out what most interests or intrigues you, and think about your personal interests and how they might intersect with your topic.
North American Indians: a Very Short Introduction by 
Native American Literature: a Very Short Introduction by Provides selected full text access to the Cambridge Histories reference series, including political, economic and social history, philosophy and literature of selected countries and subjects. Sample topics include: Social History of Britain, World History of Food, History of Political Thought, History of Latin America, History of Islam, History of Iran, Economic History of the United States. Some titles may not be available.
Offers fully-indexed, cross-searchable dictionary, language reference, and subject reference works published by Oxford University Press, including Oxford Companions Series. Covers a wide range of fields and includes illustrations, maps, timelines, biographies, and links to authoritative websites.
Another good way to get an idea about what you want to research is to search for your topic in OneSearch and browse through the results. What kinds of books and articles have been written on your topic? You don't necessarily need to find specific articles at this point. Just see what kinds of questions researchers are exploring in your area.
You may also want to browse through some scholarly journals dedicated to your topic. The library subscribes to a few journals in Native American Studies.
