Encyclopedias

Encyclopedias are excellent sources for background information on a topic. As mentioned in module 3, there are two types of encyclopedias: general and subject encyclopedias.

General Encyclopedias

General encyclopedias provide introductory information (such as a definition, description, history, statistics) on a variety of subjects and may include a brief bibliography at the end of each entry.

Subject Encyclopedias

Subject encyclopedias concentrate on specific topics within a discipline (such as education, philosophy, art, technology).

Like general encyclopedias, they include definitions, descriptive information, history, statistics and detailed information on different topics. Bibliographies featuring other materials on the topic are often provided.

 

 

 

 

Dictionaries & Directories