Reference sources (encyclopedias, companions, handbooks, dictionaries, bibliographies, manuals, and more) provide background information for a significant event, concept or theory.
Entries or articles in reference works...
- can deepen your understanding of topics and terminology from class discussions or assigned readings
- typically provide significant dates/time periods and the names of associated people (scholars/theorists/leaders)
- often provide additional terminology that you can employ as search terms to locate more in-depth sources (articles, book chapters, etc.)
- may suggest sub-topics or related concepts inspiring a more specific framing to help you focus/narrow your writing or presentation assignment
Below are a few suggested reference sources on the broad themes of this course.