Find Sources: Encyclopedia Articles

What is your initial topic?

Note: Use the same topic as the topic you chose for your Concept Map assignment.

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Part A: Find Background Information in Gale Virtual Reference Library

Gale Virtual Reference Library (GVRL) is a collection of subject encyclopedias available online. You can search GVRL to find background information on your topic. Use the articles you find to help you narrow your initial research topic and define terminology related to your topic. Note: The library has many other reference sources available both in print and online.

• Go to the NSC Library’s Encyclopedias and Reference Tools page
• Click on the second link: Gale Virtual Reference Library
• Search for your topic (it is best to use broad search terms in this database)

1. Select TWO relevant entries from your search(es) and record the following information:

Article #1:

Title of article:  Click here to enter text.

Title of encyclopedia:  Click here to enter text.

Year of publication:  Click here to enter text.

Why you chose this article: Click here to enter text.

Article #2:

Title of article:  Click here to enter text.

Title of encyclopedia:  Click here to enter text.

Year of publication:  Click here to enter text.

Why you chose this article: Click here to enter text.

2. Read the first few paragraphs of each article. List at least 5 new terms or ideas you could add to your concept map assignment. Can any of these new terms/ideas help you focus or narrow your topic?

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Part B: Compare

• Go to Wikipedia
• Find ONE Wikipedia article related to your initial topic
• Compare the Wikipedia article with one of the subject encyclopedia articles you found in Gale Virtual Reference Library. What are the similarities? What are the differences? (Questions to consider: Who authored each article, and how can you tell? Is a bibliography or list of works cited available in one or both? How current is each article? How detailed is the information provided by each? How are they organized? What features do you find useful?)

Special Note: I don’t believe that Wikipedia is “bad”. If used strategically it can be very useful in the very early stages of your research process. In your response below try to go beyond saying one source is “good” and the other is “bad”. Both the articles found in Wikipedia and in GVRL will each have their strengths and weaknesses.

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