The first step of the research process is a general exploration of the overall topic of interest. For your historical topic, aim to get a big-picture sense of:
Who: Who were the main stakeholders? Who was responsible for the creation of the site and who used it? Make note of the names of individuals, entities, or groups and their involvement with the site.
What: What is it? What was there? What happened there?
When: During what period was the structure built? How long did it take? How long was it in use? Was this time period significant? In what ways? What else was going on at that time?
Write down the dates and ways of referring to that time period.
Where: In what specific geographic, cultural, or political place was the site constructed and used? Note relevant place names (include variant names and spellings) and ways in which location was significant.
Why: Note the known or probable objectives or motivations behind the construction and use of the structure.
How: What strategies, methods, guiding philosophies or principles guided the creation and use of the structure?
Encyclopedia of Religion, 2nd ed. by 
Windward Community College Library
