Your next step is to get a solid grasp of your topic using general, background information.

 The idea here is to ground yourself in your topic.

 At the same time, think about the details you will need to build your paper.

  Use a variety of initial resources including but not limited to: 

• Your own experience/knowledge
• Encyclopedias and other reference books in the CHIC library
• Browsing through the results of a Google search

 Remember to keep track of what you find and where you found it.

 Put this information into your working outline.

Gathering background information helps you determine:

What your main points will be, what information you need to support those main points,

and where you will find it.

What about our paper on chefs, anxiety and the Guide Michelin?  Here is my background information:

• I have heard about this anxiety and specifically the case of Bernard Loiseau
• I remember that there is a chapter in Peter Mayle's book French Lessons about Michelin and chefs
• ABC of French Food: Len Deighton's personal observations about the Guide Michelin & star system
• Slate article - don't blame Michelin http://www.slate.com/id/2079644/
• Chef steps away from "senseless race" of ratings http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/5-20-2005-70253.asp
• Information on Loiseau from about.com http://frenchfood.about.com/library/blloiseau.htm 

 

 Note the use of online articles and web sites for this topic.

Even if I don't cite all of these sources in the end, I have:

• learned that there are those who feel that the rating system has a dangerous impact on chefs and those who disagree completely with this notion
• gained some perspective on the Loiseau situation.

As I continue my research, I will look for information to support or clarify these initial findings.