Reference
Sources -
Encyclopedias
Encyclopedias
can cover many subjects or be subject-specific. Favor the latter
type, such as the ones pictured below, since they provide more
material on a subject.
Encyclopedias
are great sources to consult when you are beginning a paper
for several reasons.
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Subject-specific
encyclopedias offer ideas for paper topics and for ways
to broaden and narrow them. |
They provide an
authoritative general introduction to a topic,
including some or all of the following: dates and individuals
relevant to it, the most important aspects of it, controversies
relating to it, major developments associated with it,
and what is unknown about it.
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Encyclopedia
essays often end with references to related subjects
as well as a bibliography of good sources. Moreover,
they often suggest good search terms since the terminology
used is frequently the same as that in other sources,
databases for example.
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Other
Reference Sources
Reference
sources serve other purposes as well.
They
can be drawn on for quotes, statistics, definitions, little-known
facts, brief biographical sketches, etc. This material adds
color and specificity to a paper, making it more interesting.
Moreover, information found in reference sources can be used
to support ideas and flesh them out, making a paper more authoritative
and persuasive.
