SI647: General Resources

Sources About Everything (Encyclopedias: General, Children’s, One-Volume, Subject, Foreign; Web Catalogs; Virtual Libraries)

First, have a look at these:

  • Encyclopedia Americana in print (AE 5)
  • Encyclopedia Britannica in print
  • World Book Encyclopedia in print
  • a one-volume encyclopedia (Random House,  Columbia Encyclopedia Online , etc)
  • for more, see  MeL Internet
  • Encyclopedia of World Art (N 31)
  • New Grove Encyclopedia of Music and Musicians (ML 100)
  • EncyberPedia.com
  • Yahoo
  • Free Internet Encyclopedia
  • About.com
  • Wikipedia.com
  • McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology
  • International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences

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    Now, for each of the following questions, consult at least 2 different sources (at least 1 from the list above; and try to use most of the sources above at least once) and compare the information you get from each. You man consult with each other, but turn in your own work.  Note which sources you chose for each topic, similarities and differences you found, which one you think is “best” and why. (Write these up briefly to turn in)

    1. Where did the terms BC and AD in reference to years originate?
    2. I heard that there was no marathon in the early Olympics, before its revival in the 19th century. Is that true? Where can I find information on the early history of the Olympics?
    3. I’m trying to find information on Namibia, Africa, previously known as North West South Africa.  I’m looking for materials on geography, topography, and government.
    4. What can you tell me about Ayatollah Khatami?
    5. I know nothing of the Salem Witch Trials, but I have a 10 page paper on them due in my senior high school English class in a month.
    6. How do you make maple syrup start to finish?
    7. Where can I learn about gay and lesbian music composers?
    8.  Is there an animal called a pack rat?  I'd like to learn more about it. 
    9.  Can you give me a scholarly bibliography of the artist Donatello?

    For class discussion:
  • When might you use each of the following kinds of encyclopedias: standard/adult, one-volume, children’s, foreign, subject? Other “encyclopedic” sources?
  • What are the most important criteria for evaluation of these kinds of sources and how would you carry out that evaluation?
  • What importance does format (print, Web) play in relation to use?  Are the factors the same when you consider personal use rather than institutional use?
  • What other ways might you get at this information?
  • How do you think this type of information resource might change over the next few years?
  • What new resource did you discover that you'd like to add to the list?
     

    mholland@umich.edu

    8/29/05