Choose a topic in which you are interested or have some kind of background. Think about your own experience. Spend some time thinking about your topic, it will make your library research much less frustrating.
Reference materials are a great way to brainstorm about paper or speech topics.
The Reference Room is valuable for gathering general background on almost any issue. Create a list of subject headings . Locate a few books or journal articles on WebPALS that deal with your topic. You may click on the highlighted subject headings to eliminate many materials that are not relevant to your search. Choose an appropriate periodical index for your topic.