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Research Guides

Why Use Background Sources

   book jackets

Encyclopedias help you figure out the who, what & where of a topic. Knowing the who, what & where of a topic is the first step in researching a topic and discovering the "how" and "why". Encyclopedias and dictionaries can provide background information and can be used to identify key people, events and dates which can then be used as search terms for finding additional information. Many also provide a jumpstart on your research by listing related readings.​ 

Major encyclopedia: Oxford Research Encyclopedia: American History

Two online encyclopedia collections: Gale Ebooks & Oxford Reference Online 

Quick Info: American History

Quick Info: World History

Quick Info: Immigration, Ethnicity & Identity