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ENG 112: College Composition II (Vogt-Loudoun)

This guide has been created to help you find books, articles, videos, and other types of resources related to this program of study. Direct comments to Michael English, menglish@nvcc.edu.

How to Use Reference Books


An encyclopedia is a type of reference book. These are great resources for gathering background information on your topic, as well as for:

  • Defining important vocabulary words related to your topic,
  • Finding a basic overview and main issues related to your topic, and
  • Finding references to additional resources.

Encyclopedia Search Tips

Since encyclopedia articles focus on basic, general information about a topic, what you type in the search box should also be general:

YES:  social media

YES:  social media AND anxiety

NO:  how does social media affect stress among teens and young adults?

Online Encyclopedias

Below are a few places you can find definitions and encyclopedia articles; from off campus you will have to login with your myNOVA username and password.

Credo Reference includes a great Mindmap tool to help you brainstorm topic ideas.