Reference Books - online or in print - provide critical information for students beginning research in a new areas. In the very best encyclopedias, you will get a concise summary of a topic that touches on all the major historical arguments. They can shape your research direction and highlight important sub-topics to investigate. They can help you narrow a topic from something that is too big (Indians of North America) to something more focused and precise (Tribal soverignty and fishing rights).

Read encyclopedia articles for these key reasons:

• Get an better understanding of your broad topic.
• Use your new knowledge and the article to write down potential search terms (key people, places, ideas, institutions, etc.)
• Learn how you might narrow your broad topic to something more focused and workable for a semeser-long research project.
• Find citations to well regarded books on your topic (these are listed at the end of the articles).