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Libguides Encyclopedias Dictionaries Atlases Introduction

Leo Migdal
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libguides encyclopedias dictionaries atlases introduction

Reference Sources are designed to help you find information to include in your research paper. They can help you in many ways- Notice the tabs at the top of this page. These will lead you to information on: The library's reference sources offer a wealth of college-appropriate, authoritative information whether they are eBooks or in print format. Encyclopedias - Use encyclopedias to jump start your research with overview articles from credible sources that are packed with information and are wonderful sources for background information.

Dictionaries - Use dictionaries to discover the meaning of words and find information quickly because it's arranged alphabetically. Atlases - Visual sources like maps, charts, plates, etc. give you another way to understand and communicate your topic. If your instructor has told you that you can't use encyclopedias be sure to question that limitation, because scholarly subject encyclopedias are very credible academic resources. Think of them as books filled with scholarly articles that are like well-written research papers. Encyclopedias are highly recommended as a starting point for your research on a particular topic.

Encyclopedias will give you introductory information to help you broaden or narrow your topic, while also providing keywords and terms needed to conduct further research. Many students use Wikipedia at the beginning of the research process. While information and data found on Wikipedia is easily accesible and often accurate, it should not be cited as source material. Because Wikipedia is an open-source virtual library, almost anyone is allowed to edit and insert information in an article. Therefore, caution should be used when choosing to use Wikipedia for background information. Whenever possible authorative resources should be consulted to verify the accuracy of any data found on Wikipedia.

The following article from Cornell University provides an overview of how to use Wikipedia effectively. A reference source provides a useful introduction to a topic and is often a good place to start your research, especially if you do not have a comprehensive familiarity with the subject matter. Reference material can be consulted to help define terms and to lay out the history and context of a subject. Some common examples of reference works include: Reading one or many reference source can help you more fully comprehend more technical, detailed, and nuanced scholarly books and articles. The majority of print reference books are located on the first floor of the Wardman Library, although there are some on the Mezzanine and Second/Top floors as well.

There are also many online reference databases, such as Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL), which brings together numerous reference works in one place. Take a look at the "Recommended Reference Databases" box on the left hand side. Encyclopedias are often called tertiary sources, but sometimes they can be secondary sources or primary sources. They compile information from trusted experts and produce short entries on each item. Tertiary sources provide you with basic information that you might need to proceed with your project, and they can help you narrow your research question. They often point you towards the secondary and primary sources you need for research projects.

When you begin a research project, it is helpful to have a good overview of your topic--especially if it is one that is new to you. Encyclopedias are sources that include basic overviews of topics or subjects; definitions of terms specific to a field of study; provide visual images such as maps, charts and graphs, or they provide primary documents... In Research Strategies: Finding Your Way through the Information Fog, William Badke explains that you have acquired a "working knowledge" of a subject "when you can talk about it for one minute without repeating... When reading an encyclopedic entry, try to discover: There are two types of encyclopedias: General and Subject. General encyclopedias provide brief overviews on many different topics.

Subject encyclopedias provide more details on important dates, people, and events on a topic. Entries are written (signed) by an expert or scholar in the field; provide references or bibliographies for further research; cross-reference other topics of similar interest; published in single or multi volume sets. From the library's home page, type in your topic keyword (or keyword phrase) and include the keyword encyclopedia in the search box Learn how to search Credo Reference and ScienceDirect encyclopedias on our Tutorials page. Encyclopedia articles, images, videos, and primary sources plus an atlas, dictionary, and thesaurus. Due to the British focus of this resource, some topics unique to the U.S.

get ephemeral treatment. In-depth reports on current and controversial topics. Includes images, background information, pro/con, charts, and statistics. More than 1,000 encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and reference handbooks. Reference sources are a way to quickly look-up information and are a great way to get to know a topic before conducting more in-depth research. Types of reference sources include:

These are some encyclopedias we have available in the library. Encyclopedias are individual books or sets of book containing information about many different topics OR many subtopics about a topic. These topics are typically arranged alphabetically. In today's world, encyclopedias can also be found electronically as eBooks OR whole websites. Check out the encyclopedias we have available through the Katie Murrell Library! Britannica Academic is an online [1] encyclopedia, [2] dictionary, and [3] atlas providing articles, primary sources, multimedia, and other unique resources including New York Times articles and BBC News feeds.

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Reference Sources Are Designed To Help You Find Information To

Reference Sources are designed to help you find information to include in your research paper. They can help you in many ways- Notice the tabs at the top of this page. These will lead you to information on: The library's reference sources offer a wealth of college-appropriate, authoritative information whether they are eBooks or in print format. Encyclopedias - Use encyclopedias to jump start your...

Dictionaries - Use Dictionaries To Discover The Meaning Of Words

Dictionaries - Use dictionaries to discover the meaning of words and find information quickly because it's arranged alphabetically. Atlases - Visual sources like maps, charts, plates, etc. give you another way to understand and communicate your topic. If your instructor has told you that you can't use encyclopedias be sure to question that limitation, because scholarly subject encyclopedias are ve...

Encyclopedias Will Give You Introductory Information To Help You Broaden

Encyclopedias will give you introductory information to help you broaden or narrow your topic, while also providing keywords and terms needed to conduct further research. Many students use Wikipedia at the beginning of the research process. While information and data found on Wikipedia is easily accesible and often accurate, it should not be cited as source material. Because Wikipedia is an open-s...

The Following Article From Cornell University Provides An Overview Of

The following article from Cornell University provides an overview of how to use Wikipedia effectively. A reference source provides a useful introduction to a topic and is often a good place to start your research, especially if you do not have a comprehensive familiarity with the subject matter. Reference material can be consulted to help define terms and to lay out the history and context of a s...

There Are Also Many Online Reference Databases, Such As Gale

There are also many online reference databases, such as Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL), which brings together numerous reference works in one place. Take a look at the "Recommended Reference Databases" box on the left hand side. Encyclopedias are often called tertiary sources, but sometimes they can be secondary sources or primary sources. They compile information from trusted experts and p...