Subject Guide Template - 2 unequal col

<<Highlight 3-5 core general reference titles using the book feature. Plugging in the ISBN will search for details to populate. Remove the ISBN from the field before saving. Edit info to just title, author, location and URL (remember to add the proxy), and a BRIEF description. Do not leave the publisher's 1000 word essay, but you can trim it down to get to the basics. If a cover image doesn't come up from syndetics automatically, you can add an image link from amazon or another online source>>

References sources, particularly specialized encyclopedias, offer many benefits. Consider the following tips as you review a reference source on your topic to reap all the benefits and make your researching even better.

• Get definitions and background - Reference sources assume that you are new to a topic. Jargon and specialized terminology will be explained and contextualized, which you might not get in more advanced books and journal articles.
• Get caught-up on a topic - Research is a conversation, and often it has been going on for years. Reference sources will provide a historical background and identify key developments to help you understand how we got to the current understandings and theories.
• Identify key people and theories - Who are the most important people and ideas on your topic? Reference sources will help you identify them so you can explore their lives and research more deeply.
• Find more sources - Reference sources will provide additional reading, usually in the form of references or background lists. These are a great next-step in your research process.

Search across hundreds of encyclopedias, handbooks, and other reference titles in the Gale Virtual Reference Library.