Encyclopedias, Almanacs, Subject Guides

Background Information and Quick Facts

When you start researching your term paper it is important that you do not leave things until the last minute. The best way to get started is to select a topic and make sure that the length of your term paper reflect the breadth of the topic you chose. ie. the shorter the term paper, the more the precise your topic should be. If your term paper is longer, you can widen the scope of your topic and be more general.

The next part is to begin to read background information or quick fact type information resources. These include general encyclopedias, subject-specific encyclopedias and handbooks, almanacs and subject guides. You can find these 'secondary' resources either online or in the reference section of your public or university library. Reading 1-2 page synopsis of your topic in an encyclopedia can make your topic more clear to you and help build that first layer of information on the topic.

A general encylopedia like the Encyclopaedia Britannica or Encyclopedia.com is an excellent place to start. On the other hand, subject-specific encyclopedias and handbooks will focus more on a single discipline or topic and will help build that 'second layer' of knowledge. These resources provide more comprehensive and in depth examination of the topic you are researching. example: Chemistry Hypermedia Project.

If you are looking for facts and figures, Almanacs can provide a wide array of statistics on any topic imaginable. Subject Guides are generally organized by librarians and available in your local library. They have prepared lists of recommended library and internet resources in many areas of interest.