An encyclopedia is an alphabetical collection of reference information. It is divided into many volumes due to the great variety of published subjects to research. Using an encyclopedia is often the first step to researching topics for personal or academic use and to find additional sources.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Finding a Topic
Step 1. Ask a reference librarian which encyclopedias are available for your use
The most well-known types of encyclopedias include the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the World Book Encyclopedia and the Treccani. Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia that is often used in place of a library's books.
- Published encyclopedias are usually more carefully reviewed than online encyclopedias; however, the volumes need to be updated more frequently to provide accurate information.
- Online encyclopedias such as Wikipedia are updated regularly. The reliability of the sources differs greatly from subject to subject.
Step 2. Choose a person, place or thing you want to research
If you start with little knowledge of the subject, choose a general term, such as "gardening", "Russia" or "linguistics".
Step 3. Use the first letter of the topic to find the volume you need
For example, if you are looking for "Russia", find the volume with the letter "R". Go to the section of the library that houses the volumes and move between them in alphabetical order, until you find the "R".
Step 4. Remove the volume
Follow the bold subjects in alphabetical order until you find the word you are looking for.
Step 5. Make a photocopy of the page or pages that contain information on the subject
Most encyclopedias cannot be verified. Return the volume after obtaining a copy of the information.
If you use an online encyclopedia, you can print your selection to take with you for continued review
Part 2 of 3: Deepening the Research on the Topic
Step 1. Highlight the important terms and words in the first entry of the encyclopedia
Write down the most important information in the margins of your photocopy.
Step 2. Find additional topics to search your highlighted words
Write one to five names or subjects that will help you continue your research. For example, if you are looking for "Russia", you can write "Vladimir Lenin", "Bolsheviks" or "Kremlin": you will look for these terms in the encyclopedia.
If you are using an online encyclopedia, click on the underlined words to follow links to other topics
Step 3. Return to the shelves on which the encyclopedia is stored
Look for the letters that correspond to those subjects. For example, for the search "Bolsheviks" you will need the letter "B" and, for "Vladimir Lenin", you will have to take the volume with the letter "L".
The entries in the encyclopedia usually correspond to the surname of the person you are looking for
Step 4. Photocopy the pages that include the topic you are looking for
Replace the volumes.
Step 5. Continue to highlight, annotate, and search for new subjects to learn more about a research topic
Step 6. Look for references to other books
Check out those books to learn more about a certain topic. For example, if you are researching Vladimir Lenin, you better check his "April theses" to continue research after reading the encyclopedia entries.
Part 3 of 3: Citing an Encyclopedia
Step 1. Ask your teacher if you need to cite sources with the Modern Language Association (MLA) notation or following the Chicago Style
Step 2. Take a volume of the encyclopedia and turn the first page
Write the author, the name of the encyclopedia, the city of publication, the publisher and the year of publication. Also, note the subjects and pages you refer to.
Some encyclopedias do not list the authors. If the above information is not available, you can skip it
Step 3. Format your MLA citation of the encyclopedia as Surname, Name
"Article Title" Encyclopedia Name (in italics). City of publication: Publisher, Year of publication. Page numbers. Press.
- For example: Murphy, Karen. "Russia" Encyclopedia Britannica. London: Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009. 504-509. Press.
- If there are multiple authors, list the first author with the surname and then with the first name. List subsequent authors with first name and then last name.
Step 4. Cite an MLA-style online encyclopedia as Last Name, First Name
"Article Title" Encyclopedia Name (in italics). City of Publication: Publisher, Year of Publication. Website title. Web. Date Month Year Access.
- For example, Murphy, Karen. "Russia" Encyclopedia Britannica. London: Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009. EncyclopediaBritannica.com. Web. 24 March 2014.
- Try to find all the information listed. If they are not available, omit them. Online encyclopedias rarely list authors.
Step 5. Format your Chicago-style encyclopedic entry as Last Name, First Name
Encyclopedia Name (in italics), Edition Number. "Article Title". City of Publication: Publisher Name, Year of Publication.
For example: Murphy, Karen. Encyclopedia Britannica, ed. 208. "Russia". London: Encyclopedia Britannica, 2009
Step 6. Cite a Chicago-style online encyclopedia as Last Name, First Name
Encyclopedia Name (in italics), Edition Number. "Item name". City of Publication: Publisher Name, Year of Publication. URL (access Month Day, Year).
