If you are unfamiliar with a topic, it is often best to start with a reference book such as a dictionary, encyclopedia, review article or other reference source to gain a basic understanding of your topic as well as terminology used in the field.
Reference sources are typically used to find to find specific pieces of information about people, places, and events; check facts; or obtain a brief overview about a particular subject. Some common sources of information are handbooks, almanacs, dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, catalogs, etc.
See the subtabs under the Reference Sources tab above to get started.
Click to view a larger image of this useful flowchart.
From John R. Henderson, Ithaca College.
