LibGuides: HO 296-SS: Honors Thesis-Capstone Prep: Getting Started

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Why Should I Use Reference Resources?

Beginning your research with reference resources helps you discover background information like terminology, central figures and dates and an overview of existing literature on your topic. Look for:

Definitions of key terms
Historical context
Biographical information
Critical interpretation of texts
Bibliographies detailing relevant scholarship

Where to Begin Your Research

Use these databases to locate background information on your topic, including definitions, important events/dates, overview, key concepts and biographical information.

Britannica Academic This link opens in a new window The rich combination of the venerable Encyclopedia Britannica plus Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, magazines and periodicals, and many other research tools provides the variety of reliable sources that college students need to consult when conducting thorough collegiate research—all from one resource. Includes access to the Britannica encyclopedia, atlas, world data, the Classics, biographies, news, multimedia, and more.
CQ Researcher This link opens in a new window Non-partisan reports on topics of national interest. Each article contains overview, chronology, pro/con, resources, and more. (1991-present)
Credo Reference This link opens in a new window Credo contains full text encyclopedias and dictionaries.
Points of View Reference Center (EBSCO) This link opens in a new window Full text database designed to provide students and schools with a series of controversial essays that present multiple sides of a current issue. Essays provide questions and materials for further thought and study and are accompanied by thousands of supporting articles from the worlds top political and societal publications. Hosted on the EBSCOhost platform.

Reference

Use these specialized encyclopedias and reference texts to get an overview of the subject, or to familiarize yourself with terminology and key concepts.