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Start by checking your assignment's guidelines. They might require you to stick to a historical period, part of the world, or academic field. Browse textbooks, articles, and websites about the broader topic, and look for a figure who's life appeals to you. For example, suppose you need to write a biographical sketch of poet who lived in the 19th century. Look up poets you've covered in class, browse your textbook or anthology of poems, and search online for poets that fit your assignment. After reading his blurb in your anthology, you might be interested in learning more about Charles Baudelaire, so you choose him for your sketch. Check you school or local library's catalog for sources about your figure. Look for books and magazine, journal, and newspaper articles, and ask a librarian for help if you run into trouble. For a major historical figure, you'll probably have more results than you can handle. Search online for your historical figure and "authoritative biography" to find the most important sources. If you have trouble finding information about your subject, you might need to choose another option. If you don't have access to a library, you can still gather reliable sources online. Including ".edu," ".gov," or ".org" with your search terms often generates more credible results. While Wikipedia itself isn't reliable, you could check the references on your figure's page for links to credible sources. If you've chosen a contemporary figure or famous person, searching online might be your best bet. The most credible sources would include reputable news publications, such as the BBC, The New York Times, and NPR. Primary sources might include an autobiography or letters your figure composed. Things your figure wrote aren't necessarily trustworthy, so you'll also need secondary sources, which are scholarly texts written about your figure. You should be able to track down sources at your library or through its interlibrary loan program. If an autobiography or published collection of letters are available, you could also purchase them online or at a bookstore. To find good secondary sources, use search terms such as "authoritative" or "definitive biography" of your figure. When you find scholarly articles about your figure, check their footnotes or references. You'll definitely want to acquire a book or article about your figure that's referenced in lots of other sources. Once you've done your research, ask yourself how the historical figure was shaped by their time period and environment. Think about how the historical figure impacted the lives of the people around them and future generations. Figure out which of the figure's achievements, qualities, work, and life experience you want to emphasize.
Choose a figure who interests you. Search for books and articles at your library. Look for reliable sources online. Gather primary and secondary sources. Review your figure's life, achievements, and importance.