Background information is reading up on the subject before you make too many decisions about how you’re going to approach your research. It introduces you to a topic before you dive in.
It helps you to focus on names, dates, events, organizations, terms, etc., associated with a topic.
It can help you decide whether to broaden or narrow your topic.
Common background sources are encyclopedias, dictionaries and biographies.
Use the search boxes below to search for background information on your broad topic.
Concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects.
Very Short Introductions can change the way you think about the things that interest you, and are the perfect introduction to subjects you previously knew nothing about: from Climate to Consciousness, Game Theory to Ancient Warfare, Privacy to Islamic History, Globalization to Literary Theory. Very Short Introductions online bringing together titles from this well-known and established print series, via a highly discoverable and fully cross-searchable platform.
These reports, created by experts in CRS for use by members of Congress, provide detailed information on all sides of a topic. The CRS Reports website is searchable by topic. In addition, the CRS Reports page provides an Appropriations Status table and links to additional information on CRS.
In 2018, Congress passed legislation requiring the the Congressional Research Service (CRS) make its reports available to the public. By clicking the search button one can see a list of all of the reports that are currently available online and limit by topic, date or author.
