Encyclopedias are a useful pre-research resource. They give you the lay of the land, including an overview of your topic (what are important things your paper should address?) and also ideas for keywords you could use to find sources (what words should I use to search?).
Activity:
- Brainstorm keywords you might enter into a database or Google search to find information about your research topic. Write them down on your worksheet in the Keyword Brainstorming section at the top.
- It may help to think of synonyms as well as related terms, including some that are very specific and others that are more general. For example, if your topic was social media, you may want to search:
- Synonyms: social network, user-generated content
- Specific terms: Twitter, TikTok, Snapchat, marketing, influencer
- General terms: media, mass media, Internet, communications
- Read some background information:
- Navigate to Brittanica Academic (also accessible from the library tab of myRedDragon by clicking the Databases tab in the Library Search channel, then clicking the letter B). Brittanica Academic is an excellent resource for encyclopedia articles.
- Search using your keywords for an encyclopedia article that looks relevant.
- Hint: usually more general terms will work better for encyclopedia articles than specific terms.
- Select an encyclopedia article and skim it to get an overview of the topic.
- Skimming strategy: Look at headings and focus your reading on the sections that are most relevant and/or that you know the least about.
- Skim for about five minutes.
- Write new keywords you encountered on the article on your search strategies worksheet.
