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Encyclopedias

Types of Encyclopedias

Print• World Book Encyclopedia• Bound volumes

Digital • Britannica Online (Alabama Virtual Library)• Kids InfoBits (Alabama Virtual Library)• Wikipedia (not recommended for research)

Why Use an Encyclopedia?

• Background research

• Verify a fact

• Broad, topical information

What was the Boston Tea Party?

When was the Declaration of Independence signed?

What is a hurricane?

How are they organized?

• Each volume is numbered• Each volume has letters

on the spine from A-Z• Articles are arranged

alphabetically by subject• The last volume is the index.

What is in an Encyclopedia article?

• Bold headings for subtopics• Key facts in tables• Graphs• Maps• Pictures

How to Use a Print Encyclopedia

• Choose the volume using the first letter of the subject(for example – M for Moon).

• Use guide words to find the topic

• Read entry to find information

• Which volume would you use to find information about Thanksgiving?

A B C- Ci- D E F G H I J- K L M- Mo N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ci Cx Mi Mz Inde

x

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Volume 22

• Which volume would you use to find information about Cats?

A B C- Ci- D E F G H I J- K L M- Mo N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Ci Cx Mi Mz Inde

x

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Volume 3

Can’t Find What You Need?

• Use the Index• The index is the last volume in the

set• Sometimes topics may be listed

under different names. The index will help you find what you need.

Britannica Online

Type words in thesearch box

Browse topics by subject

Click hypertext links within article

Other features in Britannica Online

Credits

Modified from the following:• Using an Encyclopedia, Alton R-IV Public School District. http://

alton.k12.mo.us/warren/Using%20an%20Encyclopedia.ppt• Using the Encyclopedia, Alton R-IV public School District.

http://www.warren.kyschools.us/.../Using%20the%20Encyclopedia.ppt