By the third or fourth week of the semester, you should be getting yourselves sorted out about basic research materials. If you've already started gathering materials and putting your outlines in shape, that's great: you are right on target.
If you still have not yet gone to the Library, or not yet begun assembling reading lists or interview candidates, then you should make your move as soon as you can.
I cannot recommend highly enough that you take advantage of the resources in the Library (http://library.gmu.edu). The reference librarians are eager to help students with projects exactly like the Capstone. They can help you focus on just the right high quality materials you need to concentrate on, saving you lots of time and aggravation.
1) Use appropriate research guide from the Library. The Library has prepared a number of Research Guides; the one for International Commerce and Policy can be seen at: http://library.gmu.edu/research/icp.pdf. Other research guides can be accessed at: http://library.gmu.edu/research/handouts.html.
2) Search the book catalog for the Washington area university libraries: http://www.aladin.wrlc.org.
3) Search several periodicals databases: the "Public Affairs and Law" listing covers a good number: http://oscr.gmu.edu/sql/subdb.php?Public_Affairs_&_Law.
Depending on your topic, some good databases for ICP purposes are:
You will need your student identification number to gain access to the databases themselves: click on the "EZ Access" box.
4) If you would like to talk to a reference librarian at
the Arlington campus, call 703-993-8230,
e-mail them (http://library.gmu.edu/research/question_form.html),
or chat live, online: http://vrl-web6.lssi.com/wcscgi/CDM.exe/gmu?SS_COMMAND=CUST_SUP&Category=GENREF_B.
The point is, get in touch with them!
5) Search the Internet. That being said, you cannot do a successful project only by using Google or Yahoo to develop your research materials. I would limit your references to no more than 20 percent of the total amount of material you use.
6) Use the Writing Center. If you would like help with the writing process, please contact the University Writing Center (http://writingcenter.gmu.edu). They are there to help with issues of structure, getting started, formats and style and the like.
I hope this nudge is helpful. My main goal is to get you out of here as painlessly as possible with the maximum benefit.
Good luck!