Consider:
Write down what you already know about the topic. Use that information to develop questions.
In other words, try to get a clear picture of your subject.
To do that, you can use:
or talk to an expert on the subject area.
After the orientation phase you will have a clearer picture of the scope of your topic. To define your subject as clearly as possible (and to write a good essay) you need a clear research question and a clear approach or angle. This will enable you to make a selection from all the literature available on a subject. Determine which aspects of the subject you will and will not deal with.
A well-defined question makes the search much more efficient!
Formulating a good research question requires a great deal of thought and time. Still, it is absolutely rewarding to invest time in this part of the research process since your research question forms the basis for your research. In addition, a clear research question will also save time, because it enables you to tackle your research in a focused manner.
You can also refine your subject by choosing a specific time period or, for example, a specific country or language.
Your own role
In most cases, it will not be possible to find literature that gives a precise answer to your research question. You will have to use the literature you find to make connections and arrive at the answers yourself, backing them up with arguments.
