LibGuides: World War II : Choose Your Topic

Choosing a Topic

Your first step is to choose a topic for this research paper. Look at suggested the topics below. Explore the suggested reference databases and books to gain some background information. Once you choose a topic and gain some context, you should move onto searching for other secondary and primary sources.

Preliminary Research Graphic Organizer

Click on and make a copy of the Preliminary Research Graphic Organizer.

This will help refine your topic!

Reference Databases: World War II

The sources in these databases will provide you with background information about topics you want to explore.

Great Events from History: The Twentieth Century, 1941-1970 | Salem Press

Reference Books: World War II

These reference books might be able to help you as you begin to think about topic you would like to focus on.

World War II : A Student Companion by William L. O'Neill
Call Number: Ref 940.53 On.4-w
World War II was the bloodiest and farthest-reaching military conflict in human history, which resulted in the annihilation of some 60 million people. This authoritative and thorough volume summarizes the essential information regarding the war in vibrant, accessible entries.
An Eyewitness History of World War II by Carl J. Schneider; Dorothy Schneider
Call Number: 940.53 W.89-f
Contains excerpts from memoirs, diaries, letters, newspapers, speeches, advertisements, and other primary sources that provide eyewitness reports on the America's role in World War II, and features introductory essays, chronologies, period illustrations and photographs, and brief biographies of key individuals.
The New York Times Complete World War II: The Coverage of the Entire Conflict by Richard Overy
Call Number: Ref 940.53 N.42-b
Experience the history, politics, and tragedy of World War II as you've never seen it before with original, often firsthand daily reportage of The New York Times , our country's newspaper of record.