April 26, 2024

Library Corner and specialized encyclopedia

A great resource to access when beginning any research is a specialized encyclopedia.   Specialized encyclopedias provide broad and thorough background in a specific topic. Typically specialized encyclopedias are not appropriate as a resource in a research paper.   Instead, specialized encyclopedias will assist the user gain an understanding of a specific topic as well as many issues directly related to a specific topic.  

This archived article was written by: Lori Brassaw

A great resource to access when beginning any research is a specialized encyclopedia.   Specialized encyclopedias provide broad and thorough background in a specific topic. Typically specialized encyclopedias are not appropriate as a resource in a research paper.   Instead, specialized encyclopedias will assist the user gain an understanding of a specific topic as well as many issues directly related to a specific topic.  
Having a complete understanding of a topic and the aspects involved in an issue will be a great help to students when it comes time to write a thesis statement for a research paper.   Also it is helpful to know information on your topic in order to perform successful KEYWORD searches in the CEU Library Card Catalog and the subscription databases known collectively as Academic Pioneer.
Several specialized encyclopedias are available at the CEU Library.   Typically the specialized encyclopedias are located in the reference area of the library.   Some titles of specialized encyclopedias owned by the CEU Library and available for in library use are:     Encyclopedia of Children, Adolescents and the Media (2 vol. set), Encyclopedia of Domestic Violence,   Encyclopedia of Literature, Encyclopedia of Evolution (2 vol. set), Encyclopedia of the American Constitution (4 vol. set , Criminal Justice (3 vol. set), MacMillan   Encyclopedia of Physics (4 vol. set), MacMillan   Encyclopedia of   Chemistry (4 vol. set), Encyclopedia of Minerals, Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders and Birth Defects, and the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America.
The reference area of the library has many more specialized encyclopedias in all disciplines taught here at CEU.   Please feel free to stop by the library and browse the reference area for an opportunity to view the different specialized encyclopedias – you won’t be disappointed.