Encyclopedias
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Gale eBooks This link opens in a new window(Formerly Gale Virtual Reference Library) includes full-text encyclopedias, handbooks, and other sources for multidisciplinary research. (VIVA, NVCC)
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Credo Reference This link opens in a new windowA collection of over 500 reference books on a variety of topics. (NVCC)
Use encyclopedias to:
- Define terms.
- Find an overview of your topic.
- Discover related ideas and terms.
Encyclopedias contain quick facts and topic overviews, but are typically not used as sources in papers because they are usually too general in scope.
Online Reference Sources
Write Down...
As you find information related to your topic, write down key words and ideas you come across, including:
Synonyms and related terms
Sub-topics
Arguments for and against your topic
Names of people
Names of organizations
Events
Issues
These are your KEYWORDS; you will likely continue to find more keywords as you do your research. You will use these terms to do more effective searches.