English Research Guide: What is My Information Need?

Once you have selected a preliminary topic or research question you would like to explore, think about what type of information you need to research and know in order to make a well-rounded, thorough research paper.

For example, you might want to know:

• What are the author's political and personal beliefs?
• What is the historical context of what was happening when the work was published?
• How did readers respond to the work when it was first published vs in the present day?
• Are there any feminist interpretations of the work already published?
• Are there any critics who have focused on specific symbolisms in the work?
• What does a specific culture reference mean?

Thinking through what type of information you want to find can help you in determining not only what you search, but also what types of sources might answer your information need and where to find them.